Family and Education

b. c.1742, 2nd s. of William Hannay of Kirkdale by Margaret (m.1740), da. of Rev. Patrick Johnston of Girthon, Kirkcudbright. m. 4 Nov. 1760, Mary, da. of Robert Meade, MD, of Teddington, Mdx., 5s. 4da. suc. e. bro. Col. Alexander Hannay, E.I. Co. service 1782. Served heir to Sir Robert Hannay, 1st Bt. (d.1658) (a baronetcy dormant since the death of the 2nd Bt. in 1689) 26 Sept. 1783.1

Offices Held

Biography

Hannay, who combined the lives of an eminent London drug merchant and a Scotch baronet with considerable East Indian investments, was also addicted to gambling, and apparently went through several fortunes. In 1790 he was still in business, in partnership with William Duncan at Philpot Lane, but he did not long survive his second return for Camelford on the interest of Sir Jonathan Phillipps^†. During the Regency crisis he had gone over to opposition with his friend Sir John Macpherson* and colleague James Macpherson* and he joined the members of opposition who met at Burlington House on 11 May 1790. As he died on 11 Dec. 1790 and Parliament had opened on 23 Nov., it is unlikely that he took any part in the proceedings. Hannay evidently owed £200,000 at the time and left no will. While his brother rescued the estate in Scotland, his heir Samuel was obliged to enter the Austrian service and died at Vienna in 1841 unmarried, whereupon the baronetcy lapsed.2

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

• 1. He had no conceivable claim to it: see Stewart Francis, Notes on Hannay Fam. i. 144; ii. 221, 228; The Hannays of Sorbie, 78.
• 2. PCC admon. act bk. Feb. 1791.