John Hay
(2nd Marquess of Tweeddale)

1645 - 1713

Politician. Son of the John Hay (1610-97), 1st Marquess of Tweeddale. In 1666, at Highgate in London, he married Mary Maitland, daughter of John, the 1st and only Duke of Lauderdale (1616-82). However, Lauderdale set himself against Hay, who was forced to leave for the continent and did not regain his position until Lauderdale's death in 1682.

Hay was prominent in the stormy times prior to the Act of Union (1707) and was leader of the New Party or Squadrone Volante, which at first opposed the Union and then supported it. He was briefly Lord High Commissioner, or leader, of the Scottish Parliament (1703-4) and became one of the first of the Scottish Representative Peers.

Hay died at Yester and is buried there.

Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry