A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hay, John (b)
HAY. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 22; h-p., 8.)
John Hay, born 23 March, 1804, is second son, we believe, of Jas. Hay, Esq., of Seggieden, co. Perth, and of Killicranky Cottage, in the pass of Killicranky, a Deputy-Lieutenant for that shire, by Margaret, daughter of John Richardson, Esq., of Pitfour. One of his brothers, Jas. Richardson, is a Captain in the Army; and another, Patrick, is a Lieutenant in the Bengal Native Infantry.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College in Jan. 1817, and embarked 12 Oct. 1819, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Phaeton 46, Capts. Wm. Henry Dillon and Sir Wm. Augustus Montagu, of which frigate, employed on the Home and Halifax stations, he soon became Midshipman. On his removal, in 1822, to the Redwing 18, Capt. Hon. Geo. Rolle Walpole Trefusis, we find him sharing in the boats of that sloop in an expedition against the pirates in the West Indies, and compelled, during a period of eight days, to subsist on the provisions of two. He afterwards served for about four years in South America, latterly as Mate, on board the Mersey 26, Capt. John Macpherson Ferguson, Jaseur 18, Capt. Thos. Martin, and Cambridge 80, Capt. Thos. Jas. Maling; and he next, in 1827-8, joined the Prince Regent 120, flag-ship at the Nore of Sir Robt. Moorsom, Martial 14, commanded on the coast of Scotland by Lieut. Robt. M‘Kirdy, and Blonde 46, Capt. Edm. Lyons; under whom, towards the close of 1828, he was employed on shore in constructing batteries, and otherwise co-operating with the French army during the siege of Morea Castle.[1] Attaining the rank of Lieutenant 12 Nov. 1829, Mr. Hay, until June, 1831, served in that capacity on board the Meteor bomb, Capt. David Hope, Britannia 120, bearing the flag of Sir Pulteney Malcolm, and Samarang 28, Capt. Wm. Fanshawe Martin. His next appointment was, 27 March, 1837, to the Talavera 74, Capt. Wm. Bowen Mends, stationed, as were the three ships last-mentioned, in the Mediterranean; on his return whence he became, 4 Jan. 1840, First-Lieutenant of the Pylades 18, Capt. Talavera Vernon Anson. Proceeding in that vessel to China, he there commanded her boats, 29 July, 1840, in a severe action with three piratical junks, one of which he succeeded in capturing after a loss of 2 men killed and 8 wounded. With the exception of the attack on the forts at the Boca Tigris, Mr. Hay afterwards shared, and was particularly recommended for the ability he displayed in all the operations which led to the first and second capture of the city of Canton;[2] and on one occasion he rendered himself particularly conspicuous by his exertions at night in cutting through a raft which had been moored across the river, and had efiectually obstructed the passage of the shipping. He was advanced to his present rank by commission dated 6 May, 1841; and since 15 May, 1844 (some months previously to which period he had been admitted a student at the Royal Naval College), has been in command of the Prometheus steam-sloop, on the coast of Africa. Agents— Messrs. Halford and Co.