Charles Hay, 16th Earl of Kinnoull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Kinnoull
DL
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Convenor of the Crossbench Peers | |
| Assumed office 28 April 2023 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Judge |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| as an elected hereditary peer 6 February 2015 |
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| By-election | 6 February 2015 |
| Preceded by | The 21st Lady Saltoun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 December 1962 |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse |
Clare Crawford
(m. 2002) |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
| Occupation | Barrister |
Charles William Harley Hay, born on December 20, 1962, is known as the 16th Earl of Kinnoull. Before 2013, he was called Viscount Dupplin. He is a Scottish hereditary peer, which means he inherited his title. He is also a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. He sits as a Crossbencher, meaning he doesn't belong to a specific political party. Since April 2023, he has been the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers. This means he leads the group of members in the House of Lords who are not part of any political party.
Contents
About Charles Hay
Early Life and Education
Charles Hay went to Eton College for his schooling. After that, he studied chemistry at Christ Church, Oxford, which is a famous university. He was a very good student there and earned an "open scholar" title.
Career and Work
After university, Charles Hay became a barrister. A barrister is a type of lawyer who represents people in court. He was officially allowed to practice law in 1990. For 25 years, he worked for a company called Hiscox, which provides insurance. He also manages a farm in Perthshire, Scotland.
Royal Company of Archers
Since 2000, he has been a member of The Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers). This is a special group that acts as the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland.
Becoming the Earl of Kinnoull
Charles Hay became the Earl of Kinnoull after his father, William Hay, the 15th Earl of Kinnoull, passed away on June 7, 2013.
Role in the House of Lords
Joining the House of Lords
The Earl of Kinnoull was chosen to be a member of the House of Lords on February 4, 2015. He was elected in a special vote for hereditary peers who do not belong to a political party. This happened after another member, Lady Saltoun of Abernethy, left her position.
Important Speeches and Committees
On March 19, 2015, he gave his first speech in the House of Lords. He spoke about a report from the Science & Technology Committee. In June 2015, he joined a special group called the Select Committee on Social Mobility. This group looks at ways to help people improve their lives. In 2016, he also worked on the Select Committee on the Trade Union Bill.
In May 2016, he was appointed to the Select Committee on the European Union and the Justice Sub-Committee. In September 2019, he became the Chair of the European Union Committee. He also became the Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords. He has been a Deputy Speaker since then, helping to lead discussions in the House of Lords. In January 2022, he was chosen to be the Vice Chair of the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. This is a new group that works with both the European and UK Parliaments. He led the House of Lords members in this group.
Convenor of the Crossbench Peers
In April 2023, Charles Hay became the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers. This is a very important role where he leads the group of members in the House of Lords who are not part of any political party. Because of this new role, he stepped down from his other positions in June 2023. At the same time, he was appointed to the House of Lords Commission.
Atholl Highlanders
In June 2017, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He became the commanding officer of the Atholl Highlanders, which is a private army in Scotland.
Deputy Lieutenant
In January 2018, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Perth and Kinross. This is a special role that helps the King's representative in a local area.
Family Life
Charles Hay is the son of William Hay, the 15th Earl of Kinnoull, and Ann Lowson.
In 2002, he married Clare Crawford. They have four children:
- Lady Alice Hay (born September 25, 2003)
- Lady Catriona Hay (born September 25, 2003)
- Lady Auriol Hay (born March 15, 2007)
- William Hay, Viscount Dupplin (born June 24, 2011)
Charity Work
The Earl of Kinnoull is involved in several charity organizations:
- He is the president of the Royal Caledonian Ball Trust. This trust organizes a yearly ball to raise money for Scottish charities.
- He is the chairman of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust. This trust works to protect red squirrels in the wild.
- He is also the chair of Culture Perth & Kinross. This trust manages museums and libraries in the Perth and Kinross area.
