Alexander Hay

Alexander Hay's portrait

Alexander Cunningham Hay (b. 30 March 1845, Edinburgh, d. 10 February 1920, Lerwick) was a merchant and County Councillor, first for Northmavine East between 1890 and 1892, then again for Tingwall between 1897 and 1901.

Biography

Alexander was educated at the Edinburgh Academy between 1856 and 1860. His began his career in a London bank, before leaving the UK for three or four years. He moved to Durban in South Africa where he joined the Standard Bank of South Africa. Upon his return, he passed for the army, but after waiting more than two years to be deployed, he left for Nashville, Missouri where he kept a farm for a few years before returning to the UK again 1875.

He returned to Shetland and joined the family business of Hay & Co and upon the retiral of William Irvine in 1882, Alexander became a partner in the business. By 1896, he was the managing partner in the business owing to the deaths of his uncle George and brother Arthur, a post he held for a number of years until his health began to wane.

He was an honorary Sheriff-Substitute of Orkney and Shetland, a Justice of the Peace and a Director of the Shetland Fishermen's Windows' Relief Fund. He was Vice-Consular agent for France, and Vice-Consul for Denmark, Norway and Spain and was Chamberlain for the Marquis of Zetland.

Political Career

• 1890 County Council election
• Tingwall County Council By-Election March 1897
• 1898 County Council election

External Links

• Bayanne genealogy page

Zetland County Council
Constituency created	Member for Northmavine North 1890-1892	Succeeded by George Sinclair
Preceded by Arthur Hay	Member for Tingwall 1897-1901	Succeeded by William Duncan