A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hay, John (d)
HAY. (Lieutenant, 1832. f-p., 26; h-p., 9.)
John Hay (b), born 22 March, 1802, is brother of Lieut. Wm. Hay, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 20 April, 1812, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Union 98, Capt. Sam. Hood Linzee and Robt. Rolles, in which ship he served at the blockade of Toulon and the reduction of Genoa. In Aug. 1815, after having been employed for a period of 12 months on the coasts of Ireland and France in the Scylla 18, Capt. Allen, and Phoebe 36, Capt. Jas. Hillyar, he was nominated Midshipman of the Podargus 14, Capt. Jas. Wallis, under whom he further served, at the Cape of Good Hope, latterly in the Racoon 26, until Dec. 1818. In July, 1820, we next find him joining the Pigmy schooner, Lieut.-Commander Thos. Hills, in which vessel he cruized for three years with much success against the smugglers of the Channel, the greater part of the time as a passed Midshipman. He then, in Aug. 1820, became attached to the Superb 74, Capt. Adam Mackenzie, in whose tender, the Lyra 10, he was for many months employed; and he subsequently, from March, 1825, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 4 April, 1832, officiated as Chief Mate of the Rose, Dolphin, and Harpy Revenue-cutters, Lieut.-Commanders Thos. Strong, Jas. Giffard, John Roche, and Sam. Grandy. Mr. Hay’s commission was presented to him at the especial recommendation of the Board of Customs, for the daring conduct he had evinced in the previous October, in taking a hawser on board H.M. steamer Echo, and thereby enabling that vessel to be hove off from a perilous position under the Hoe at Plymouth, where she had been driven on shore in the night during a violent gale. His last appointments were – 10 Oct. 1832, to the Coast Guard, in which service he continued until 1838 – and, 5 Nov. 1840, to the Howe 120, Capts. Sir Watkin Owen Pell and Robt. Smart, flag-ship for some time of Sir Fras. Mason, on the Mediterranean station. He has been on half-pay since March, 1843.
Lieut. Hay married, 26 Aug. 1824, Miss Mary James Lawrence, and by that lady has issue three children.