John Hay of Cromlix facts for kids
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John Hay of Cromlix (1691–1740) was an important Scottish nobleman who supported the Jacobite cause. The Jacobites were people who believed that James Francis Edward Stuart (known as the "Old Pretender") should be the rightful King of Great Britain. John Hay was given the title of Duke of Inverness by James Stuart. He also served as a court official and army officer for him. John Hay belonged to the Clan Hay, a well-known Scottish family.
Contents
John Hay's Life
Family and Early Years
John Hay was born in 1691. His parents were Thomas Hay, the seventh earl of Kinnoull, and Elizabeth. John was their third son. His older brother, George, later became the eighth Earl of Kinnoull.
The Hay family generally supported the Stuart kings. However, they were also Protestant. They felt they could still be loyal to the Stuarts while serving Queen Anne.
Marriage and New Titles
John's grandfather, William Drummond, left an estate called Cromlix in Scotland to John's father. In 1714, John Hay bought a position as a commander in the foot guards.
A year later, he married Marjorie Murray. Her father was David Murray, fifth Viscount Stormont. Marjorie's brothers included the Earl of Mansfield and James Murray. James Murray was also a strong Jacobite supporter.
On October 5, 1718, James Stuart, the "Old Pretender," gave John Hay new titles. He became the Earl of Inverness, Viscount of Innerpaphrie, and Lord Cromlix and Erne. These were part of the Jacobite Peerage, which were titles given by the exiled Stuart king.
Serving the Old Pretender
In 1725, James Stuart made John Hay his Secretary of State. This was a very important job. At the same time, John's wife, Lady Inverness, and his brother-in-law, James Murray, were given roles. They became governess and tutor to James Stuart's royal children. Because of their close relationship with James Stuart, John Hay and James Murray became known as the "King's favourites."
Challenges and Changes
However, in 1725, there were some problems. James Stuart's wife, Clementina, decided to move into a convent. One reason she gave was that she was unhappy with Lord and Lady Inverness. She also disliked that James Murray, a Protestant, was made governor of her children.
These complaints might have been influenced by Mrs. Sheldon. She was the children's former governess and related to John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar. The Earl of Mar had led a failed rebellion in 1715. He had also been replaced by John Hay as James Stuart's main contact in Britain. Mar was very angry about losing the king's favour and wanted revenge on Hay.
Clementina's decision to leave caused problems for James Stuart. It upset his supporters in Britain. It also worried the people who gave him money, like Pope Benedict XIII and the King of Spain. Because of this, James Stuart sadly accepted John Hay's resignation as Secretary of State in 1727. After Hay resigned, Clementina left the convent.
Even though Hay resigned, James Stuart still valued him. In April 1727, he gave John Hay the title of Duke of Inverness. He also made him Baron Hay in the Jacobite Peerage of England.
Retirement
By 1738, John Hay decided to step away from active politics. He retired to Avignon, France. This city was a popular place for Jacobite supporters to live. James Murray, his brother-in-law, also retired there later. John Hay passed away in 1740.
