Andrew Leith Hay facts for kids

Sir Andrew Leith Hay (born February 17, 1785 – died October 13, 1862) was a Scottish soldier, politician, and writer. He was known for his military service, his time in politics, and his books about old buildings.

About Andrew Leith Hay

Andrew Leith Hay was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on February 17, 1785. His father was General Alexander Leith Hay.

His Time in the Army

Andrew joined the army as an ensign in the 72nd Foot regiment in 1806. In 1808, he went to the Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) as an aide to his uncle, General Sir James Leith. He served in the Peninsular War until 1814.

He was very good at gathering information during the war. He was present at many important battles, from Corunna to the attack on San Sebastian. Everywhere he went, he made sketches of what he saw. Later, in 1831, he used these sketches and notes to write a two-volume book. It was called A Narrative of the Peninsula War.

In 1816, his uncle General Leith became the governor of Barbados. Andrew went with him and worked as his military secretary. He also helped with army logistics and administration. He served as a captain in the 2nd Foot regiment from 1817 to 1819. After this, he was placed on half-pay, meaning he was still in the army but not actively serving.

He received special honors for his service. He was named a knight commander of the Order of Charles III of Spain. He also became a member of the French Legion of Honour.

Becoming a Politician

After leaving the army, Andrew Leith Hay became interested in politics. He was involved in the discussions before the Reform Act 1832 was passed. This act changed how people voted in Britain.

On December 29, 1832, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented the Elgin burghs (a group of towns). Soon after joining parliament, his skills as a speaker were noticed. He also knew a lot about military matters.

Lord Melbourne, a powerful politician, appointed him to a good job. On June 19, 1834, Andrew became the Clerk of the Ordnance. This was a well-paying position. He was also made a Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order. In December 1834, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group of important scientists.

On February 6, 1838, he was appointed governor of Bermuda. Because of this, he left his seat in parliament. However, he did not end up going to Bermuda. On July 7, 1841, he was elected again for the Elgin burghs. He served as an MP until July 23, 1847. He tried to get elected again in 1852 for Aberdeen, but he was not successful.

His Writings

Andrew Leith Hay also cared a lot about his home county of Aberdeen. He was especially interested in the old buildings there. His most interesting book was The Castellated Architecture of Aberdeenshire, published in 1849.

This book has many pictures of old castles and grand homes in the county. All the sketches for the pictures were done by him. The text in the book, which he also wrote, contains a lot of information about these buildings.

He passed away at Leith Hall near Aberdeen on October 13, 1862.

His Family

In 1816, Andrew Leith Hay married Mary Margaret Clark. She was the daughter of William Clark. Mary Margaret passed away on May 28, 1859.

His oldest son was Colonel Alexander Sebastian Leith-Hay (1819–1897). He was well-known for his service in the Crimea and India. Andrew's younger brother, Rear-Admiral John James Leith, married Margaret Forbes.

Images for kids

• 

  Leith Hall