John Hay of Cromlix
Encyclopedia
John Hay of Cromlix was the Jacobite
duke of Inverness
and a courtier and army officer to the 'Old Pretender'. He was from the Clan Hay
.
(c.1660–1719) and Elizabeth (1669–1696). He was their third son, with their first son, George (d. 1758), succeeding Thomas. The family was sympathetic to the Stuart kings but still felt that being Protestant and serving Queen Anne
and supporting the Harley administration did not mar this sympathy and loyalty.
John's maternal grandfather William Drummond
, first viscount of Strathallan, bequeathed Thomas an estate at Cromlix, Perthshire. Thomas purchased a commission in command of a foot guards
company in 1714 and a year later married Marjorie Murray (d. in or after 1765), daughter of David Murray, fifth Viscount Stormont, and sister of the Earl of Mansfield
and the Jacobite James Murray, "Earl of Dunbar"
. On October 5, 1718 John Hay was created by James III & VIII
(the "Old Pretender") Earl of Inverness
, Viscount of Innerpaphrie and Lord Cromlix and Erne in the Jacobite Scottish peerage
. The Old Pretender appointed him his Secretary of State in 1725, and his wife and brother-in-law governess and tutor to the royal children at the same time. Thus John Hay and John Murray became known as the "King's favourites".
However, in 1725, one of James Stuart's wife Clementina's cited reasons for retiring to a convent was ill-treatment by Lord and Lady Inverness, and another was Murray's being imposed on her as her children's governor despite being a Protestant. These complaints may, however, have been influenced somewhat by the children's former governess Mrs Sheldon, sister-in-law of John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar. Mar's failed rebellion in 1715 and further intrigues had eventually led to his being replaced by John Hay as James Stuart's intermediary between the exiled Jacobites and those still in Britain, and Mar had sworn revenge on Hay for this loss of royal favour. However, other Jacobites' correspondence suggests that some ill-treatment of Clementina by the Hays did occur, though the suggestion that Lady Inverness and James Stuart were having an affair, with Lord Inverness turning a blind eye, is less likely to be a fact than merely a rumour begun by Mar and the English government. Whatever the reasons for Clementina's retirement, however, it began to alienate James Stuart's supporters in Britain as well as the main contributors to his pension, Pope Benedict XIII
and the King of Spain
, and so he reluctantly accepted Hay's resignation as Secretary of State in 1727, upon which Clementina left the convent but threatened to return at any time should her husband or his court step out of line. James nevertheless elevated Hay in April 1727 to the titular Duchy of Inverness and further created him Baron Hay in the Jacobite Peerage of England
.
Hay moved out of active political involvement into retirement in the Jacobite colony in Avignon
, France by 1738, to which James Murray also retired later. In that year, with his brother William garnering European support for James and a Jacobite invasion of Britain, and Anglo-French relations on the slide, Thomas wrote to Dr. Robin Wright, James Francis Edward Stuart's physician, stating:
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
duke of Inverness
Duke of Inverness
The Dukedom of Inverness was a title in the Jacobite Peerage of Great Britain, and as such was not recognised by the government or monarch or Great Britain...
and a courtier and army officer to the 'Old Pretender'. He was from the Clan Hay
Clan Hay
Clan Hay is a Scottish clan that has played an important part in the history and politics of Scotland. Members of the clan are to be found in most parts of Scotland and in many other parts of the world. However, the North East of Scotland, i.e...
.
Life
His parents were Thomas Hay, seventh earl of KinnoullEarl of Kinnoull
Earl of Kinnoull is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for George Hay, 1st Viscount of Dupplin. Other associated titles are: Viscount Dupplin , Lord Hay of Kinfauns and Baron Hay of Pedwardine . The former two are in the Peerage of Scotland, while the last is in the Peerage...
(c.1660–1719) and Elizabeth (1669–1696). He was their third son, with their first son, George (d. 1758), succeeding Thomas. The family was sympathetic to the Stuart kings but still felt that being Protestant and serving Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
and supporting the Harley administration did not mar this sympathy and loyalty.
John's maternal grandfather William Drummond
William Drummond, 1st Viscount Strathallan
William Drummond, first Viscount of Strathallan , was a royalist general.Drummond was the fifth and youngest son of John Drummond, second Baron Maderty, by his wife, Helen, eldest daughter of Patrick Lesly, commendator of Lindores...
, first viscount of Strathallan, bequeathed Thomas an estate at Cromlix, Perthshire. Thomas purchased a commission in command of a foot guards
Foot Guards
-British Army:The Foot Guards are the Regular Infantry regiments of the Household Division of the British Army. There have been six regiments of foot guards, five of which still exist. The Royal Guards Reserve Regiment was a reserve formation of the Household Brigade in existence from 1900-1901...
company in 1714 and a year later married Marjorie Murray (d. in or after 1765), daughter of David Murray, fifth Viscount Stormont, and sister of the Earl of Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, SL, PC was a British barrister, politician and judge noted for his reform of English law. Born to Scottish nobility, he was educated in Perth, Scotland before moving to London at the age of 13 to take up a place at Westminster School...
and the Jacobite James Murray, "Earl of Dunbar"
James Murray (Jacobite)
James Murray, Earl of Dunbar was a Jacobite.-Family:He was the second child of David Murray, 5th Viscount of Stormont and Majory Scott. His brothers included David Murray, 6th Viscount of Stormont and the First Earl of Mansfield.-Life:...
. On October 5, 1718 John Hay was created by James III & VIII
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
(the "Old Pretender") Earl of Inverness
Earl of Inverness
The title of Earl of Inverness was first created in 1718 in the Jacobite Peerage of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart for the Honourable John Hay of Cromlix, third son of the 7th Earl of Kinnoull, but became extinct upon the death of the grantee in 1740.It has been created several times in ...
, Viscount of Innerpaphrie and Lord Cromlix and Erne in the Jacobite Scottish peerage
Jacobite peerage
After the deposition by the English parliament in February 1689 of King James II and VII from the thrones of England and Ireland , he and his successors continued to create peers and baronets, which they believed was their right...
. The Old Pretender appointed him his Secretary of State in 1725, and his wife and brother-in-law governess and tutor to the royal children at the same time. Thus John Hay and John Murray became known as the "King's favourites".
However, in 1725, one of James Stuart's wife Clementina's cited reasons for retiring to a convent was ill-treatment by Lord and Lady Inverness, and another was Murray's being imposed on her as her children's governor despite being a Protestant. These complaints may, however, have been influenced somewhat by the children's former governess Mrs Sheldon, sister-in-law of John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar. Mar's failed rebellion in 1715 and further intrigues had eventually led to his being replaced by John Hay as James Stuart's intermediary between the exiled Jacobites and those still in Britain, and Mar had sworn revenge on Hay for this loss of royal favour. However, other Jacobites' correspondence suggests that some ill-treatment of Clementina by the Hays did occur, though the suggestion that Lady Inverness and James Stuart were having an affair, with Lord Inverness turning a blind eye, is less likely to be a fact than merely a rumour begun by Mar and the English government. Whatever the reasons for Clementina's retirement, however, it began to alienate James Stuart's supporters in Britain as well as the main contributors to his pension, Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
and the King of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
, and so he reluctantly accepted Hay's resignation as Secretary of State in 1727, upon which Clementina left the convent but threatened to return at any time should her husband or his court step out of line. James nevertheless elevated Hay in April 1727 to the titular Duchy of Inverness and further created him Baron Hay in the Jacobite Peerage of England
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
.
Hay moved out of active political involvement into retirement in the Jacobite colony in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, France by 1738, to which James Murray also retired later. In that year, with his brother William garnering European support for James and a Jacobite invasion of Britain, and Anglo-French relations on the slide, Thomas wrote to Dr. Robin Wright, James Francis Edward Stuart's physician, stating: