A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hay, James Beckford Lewis
HAY. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 23; h-p., 14.)
James Beckford Lewis Hay, born 25 Nov. 1797 is son of Capt. John Baker Hay, R.N. (1798) who fought under Lord Rodney in his various actions, and was Midshipman of his flag-ship in the battle of 12 April, 1782; who was afterwards present as a Lieutenant in the actions of 29 May, and 1 June, 1794, and in the mutiny at the Nore in 1797; and who ultimately died while commanding the Queen Charlotte, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, 13 May, 1823, in his 63rd year.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 April, 1810, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Puissant 74, Capt. John Irwin, lying at Spithead. From the following June until June, 1814, we find his name successively borne on the books of the Clyde 38, Inconstant 36, and Cornwall 74, all commanded, principally on the Home station, by Sir Edw. Wm. Campbell Rich Owen, by whom, during four months in the winter of 1813-14, he was employed on shore with the army at South Beveland, -where, on one occasion, six French brigs were driven aground by a battery mounting only one 18-pounder. While next cruizing in the Esk 20, Capt. Geo. Gustavus Lennock, Mr. Hay participated in the capture of the Sine quà non American privateer, and in a smart action, off Teneriffe, with two other American vessels, the Grampus and Terpsichore. In Oct. 1815 he removed to the Bulwark 74, flag-ship at the Nore of Sir Chas. Rowley; and on his being subsequently transferred to the Queen Charlotte 100, bearing the flag of Lord Exmouth, he assisted, as a passed Midshipman, at the bombardment of Algiers 27 Aug. 1816; after which event he served for a short period in the Prometheus sloop, Capt. Wm. Bateman Dashwood, and for two years as Master’s Mate in the Conqueror 74, flag-ship at the Cape of Good Hope of Rear-Admiral Robt. Plampin. Being confirmed a Lieutenant 10 April, 1819, in the Tees 26, Capt. Geo. Rennie, Mr. Hay, who continued to serve in that vessel on the station last-mentioned until Aug. 1821, was further, until April, 1831, employed, at home and in the West and East Indies, on board the Ramillies 74, Capt. Edw. Brace, Gloucester 74, Commodore Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, Tyne 28, Capt. John Walter Roberts, Gloucester again, Arachne 18, Capt. Wm. Robt. Ashley Pettman (in which sloop he served as First-Lieutenant from Nov. 1826 until Jan. 1828), Monkey and Nimble schooners, commanded by himself, and Southampton 52, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. W. C. R. Owen, under whom he officiated as Signal-Lieutenant for upwards of two years. When First of the Tyne, of which ship he acted for some time as Captain, Mr. Hay, in 1823, was recommended by his patron Sir E. Owen, to the Admiralty for his conduct during a successful expedition against the pirates of Cuba. The same officer ultimately, in April, 1831, appointed him to the command of the Cruiser 18, and, in the course of the following month, of his own flag-ship, the Southampton, to which the Admiralty confirmed him by commission dated 14 Oct. 1832. He went on half-pay in Jan. 1833, and on 23 Nov. 1841, a few weeks after his rejunction of his friend in the Queen 110, was advanced to the rank he now holds. He has not been since afloat.
Capt. Hay married, 14 Dec. 1842, Clotilda Henrietta, second daughter of Rear-Admiral Edw. Wallis Hoare, R.N.