Alexander Leith Hay
Encyclopedia
Alexander Leith Hay [formerly Alexander Leith] (1758–1838), was a British army officer.
on 21 December 1758, the second son of John Leith (1731–1763) of Leith Hall
, Aberdeenshire
and his wife, Harriet (d. 1780), daughter and heir of Alexander Steuart of Auchluncart.
He was appointed a lieutenant
in the 7th Dragoons
immediately on his birth, captain
1768, and colonel
in the army 1794. Upon the death of Andrew Hay in 1789 he inherited the estate of Rannes, Aberdeenshire, and assumed the additional surname of Hay, being descended from that family through his paternal grandmother.
On 1 October in the same year he was gazette
d colonel of a regiment
raised by himself and called by his name. He was promoted to be major-general
1796, lieutenant-general 1803 and full general 1838. He was deputy lieutenant
and justice of the peace
for the county of Aberdeenshire.
He married in 1784 Mary, daughter of Charles Forbes of Ballogie; she died in 1824. The couple had two sons and four daughters, including their eldest son, Andrew Leith Hay. He died in August 1838.
Life
Hay was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
on 21 December 1758, the second son of John Leith (1731–1763) of Leith Hall
Leith Hall
Leith Hall is a country house in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Built in 1650, on the site of the medieval Peill Castle, and run by the National Trust of Scotland since 1945, Leith Hall is set in a estate with scenic gardens. The manor was the home of the Leith-Hay family for nearly four...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
and his wife, Harriet (d. 1780), daughter and heir of Alexander Steuart of Auchluncart.
He was appointed a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 7th Dragoons
7th Queen's Own Hussars
The 7th Queen's Own Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first formed in 1690. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own Hussars in 1958....
immediately on his birth, captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
1768, and colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the army 1794. Upon the death of Andrew Hay in 1789 he inherited the estate of Rannes, Aberdeenshire, and assumed the additional surname of Hay, being descended from that family through his paternal grandmother.
On 1 October in the same year he was gazette
Gazette
A gazette is a public journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper.In English- and French-speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name Gazette since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers bear the name The Gazette.Gazette is a loanword from the...
d colonel of a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
raised by himself and called by his name. He was promoted to be major-general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
1796, lieutenant-general 1803 and full general 1838. He was deputy lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the county of Aberdeenshire.
He married in 1784 Mary, daughter of Charles Forbes of Ballogie; she died in 1824. The couple had two sons and four daughters, including their eldest son, Andrew Leith Hay. He died in August 1838.