John Hay

Who was John Hay?

John Albert Hay was a British Conservative politician.

Hay was born in Brighton, Sussex to John Edward Hay and May Hollingdale. He was brother to author Peter Thomas Hay. He was educated at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School. He served as a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during World War II and was invalided out. He married Beryl Found, the only daughter of Ret. Commander Herbert Found R.N and Alice Found. They had two children, Victoria and Richard Their marriage ended in divorce.

Hay worked as a solicitor practising in Brighton and London. He served as Chairman of the Young Conservatives 1947-49 and was elected to Parliament in 1950 as Member for Henley, South Oxfordshire. He became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the President of the Board of Trade 1951-55, and later served as Junior Minister for Transport under Ernest Marples, where he introduced parking meters, and as Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

Hay retired from politics and Parliament in 1974, and married Janet Spruce in 1975. They emigrated to Canada and he died in West Vancouver in 1998.