Victor Alexander Sereld Hay, 21st Earl of Erroll and 4th Baron Kilmarnock, KCMG (17 October 1876 – 20 February 1928), styled Lord Hay from 1876 to 1891 and Lord Kilmarnock from 1891 to 1927, was a British diplomat, a writer and briefly a member of the House of Lords, who was "noted for his tact and charm."[1]
The young Hay entered the diplomatic service and was promoted Attaché, 1900, Third Secretary in July 1902,[4] Second Secretary, 1906, First Secretary, 1913. He was First Secretary in Copenhagen, 1918–19, then briefly Chargé d'Affaires in Berlin, on the United Kingdom's resumption of diplomatic relations with Germany in 1920, until the arrival of a British Ambassador. He remained in Berlin as Counsellor until November, 1921, and served finally as British High Commissioner to the Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission, from December 1920 until his death in February 1928.[5]
He was also an author and belonged to the St James's Club. He had two plays published and produced in London, The Dream Kios and The Anonymous Letter.[6]
He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1927.[1]
Personal life
In 1900, he married Mary Lucy Victoria Mackenzie, only daughter of Sir Allan Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet, of Glen Muick, Aberdeenshire. She inherited a fortune made by her grandfather in the indigo trade in India.[1] Together, they were the parents of two sons and one daughter:[2]
Gilbert Boyd, 6th Baron Kilmarnock (1903–1975), who married The Hon. Rosemary Guest, daughter of Ivor Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne. He married, secondly, Denise Coker. He changed his surname to Boyd in 1941 to inherit the barony of Kilmarnock after the death of his brother without male issue.[2]
Lady Rosemary Hay, who married Lt.-Col. Rupert Ryan. She married, secondly, Maj. James Gresham.[2]
He held the earldom only briefly, and was succeeded by his elder son, Lord Kilmarnock, in 1928.[6] Today, his son and heir is best known for the unsolved case surrounding his murder and the sensation it caused during wartime in Britain.[8][9][10][11]
Shooting incident
On Wednesday 31 August 1910, Lord Kilmarnock was one of a shooting party at Balmoral, with George V and friends. Captain Hood (later to become a rear admiral) accidentally shot Kilmarnock, who was in a shooting butt near him. Kilmarnock's glasses were broken, and he sustained a "slight abrasion".[12] The Buchan Observer reported:[12]
It appears that the accident happened about two o'clock in the afternoon, and that Captain Hood was in the next butt to his Lordship. Captain Hood got on to the line of a bird just crossing between his butt and that of Lord Kilmarnock who was facing him. When the trigger was pulled Lord Kilmarnock at once shouted to his companion who ceased firing immediately. At the close of the drive he reported the accident to the King, who expressed sympathy with both Lord Kilmarnock and Captain Hood. His Lordship continued shooting all the afternoon, and it was not until after dinner that Dr Mitchell was sent for. Captain Hood, who was greatly upset at the accident, left the hill and returned to Braemar a short time after the occurrence.[12]
There followed "exaggerated reports" of the incident, which Kilmarnock denied, saying that he dined with the king on the Thursday night.[12] One of those reports, by The Darling Downs Gazette (Toowoomba), reported that it was George V who had shot Kilmarnock, that Kilmarnock was "badly wounded", and that "the most desperate efforts have been made to hush the whole thing up".[13]
^ abcd"EARL OF ERROLL DIES SUDDENLY; British High Commissioner in Rhineland Is Stricken While at Coblentz. SCOTLAND'S HIGHEST PEER Descendant of William 11 and Godson of Victoria--Noted for HisCharm and Tact". The New York Times. 21 February 1928. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^ abcdef"Erroll, Earl of (S, 1452)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,[page needed]
^ERROLL, Victor Hay, 21st Earl of at Who Was Who 1897–2006 online.
^ ab"Late obiturary: Earl of Erroll". Observer. Adelaide. 25 February 1928. p. 43. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
^TIMES, Wireless to THE NEW YORK (25 January 1941). "AUTO CRASH FATAL TO EARL OF ERROLL; London Gets Word of Death in Kenya Colony of Lord High Constable of Scotland". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^"HINTS EARL OF ERROLL WAS MURDER VICTIM; Doctor Finds Pistol Wound After Kenya Auto Accident". The New York Times. 28 January 1941. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^"KENYA KILLING LAID TO TITLED OFFICER; Sir Delves Broughton Accused of Murder of Earl of Erroll After Fashionable Party MISSING PISTOLS HUNTED Younger Victim Had Escorted Bride of Suspect Home -Suicide 'Ruse' Rejected". The New York Times. 12 March 1941. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^"EARL OF ERROLL SEEN AS A BRITISH FASCIST; Political Motive in His Murder Hinted as Kenya Trial Opens". The New York Times. 27 May 1941. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^"FREED IN KENYA MURDER; Broughton Acquitted in 3 1/2 Hours of Killing Earl of Errol". The New York Times. 3 July 1941. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
^ abcd"Mishap at King's shooting party. Lord Kilmarnock struck by pellets". Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser. 6 September 1910. p. 6 col.6. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
^"The King shoots a friend. Sensational mishap at Balmoral". Darling Downs Gazette Toowoomba. Trove. 6 September 1910. p. 7 col.5. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
External links
Media related to Victor Hay, 21st Earl of Erroll at Wikimedia Commons
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Erroll
victor, 21st, earl, erroll, victor, alexander, sereld, 21st, earl, erroll, baron, kilmarnock, kcmg, october, 1876, february, 1928, styled, lord, from, 1876, 1891, lord, kilmarnock, from, 1891, 1927, british, diplomat, writer, briefly, member, house, lords, not. Victor Alexander Sereld Hay 21st Earl of Erroll and 4th Baron Kilmarnock KCMG 17 October 1876 20 February 1928 styled Lord Hay from 1876 to 1891 and Lord Kilmarnock from 1891 to 1927 was a British diplomat a writer and briefly a member of the House of Lords who was noted for his tact and charm 1 The Right HonourableThe Earl of ErrollKCMGPhotograph of Lord Kilmarnock 1920British High Commissioner to the Inter Allied Rhineland High CommissionIn office December 1920 20 February 1928Preceded bySir Harold StuartSucceeded byWilliam SeedsPersonal detailsBornVictor Alexander Sereld Hay 1876 10 17 17 October 1876Died20 February 1928 1928 02 20 aged 51 SpouseMary Lucy Victoria Mackenzie m 1900 wbr ChildrenJosslyn Hay 22nd Earl of ErrollGilbert Boyd 6th Baron KilmarnockLady Rosemary HayParent s Charles Hay 20th Earl of ErrollMary Caroline L EstrangeRelativesWilliam Harry Hay 19th Earl of Erroll grandfather Diana Hay 23rd Countess of Erroll granddaughter Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 3 1 Shooting incident 4 Publications 5 Ancestry 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditErroll was the first son of Charles Hay 20th Earl of Erroll 1852 1927 and his wife Mary Caroline L Estrange 2 He was a godson of Queen Victoria and a favourite of George V and Queen Mary who often invited him to Balmoral Castle 1 Through his paternal grandfather the 19th Earl of Erroll he was a direct descendant of William IV his great grandmother Elizabeth Hay Countess of Erroll wife of the 18th Earl of Erroll was King William s daughter by his mistress Dorothea Jordan His maternal grandfather was General the Hon Sir Charles Stephen Gore KH GCB a Waterloo officer who was a son of the 2nd Earl of Arran and brother to the Duchess of Inverness 2 His maternal grandparents were Edmund L Estrange and Lady Harriett L Estrange sister of Richard Lumley 9th Earl of Scarbrough and daughter of Frederick Lumley Savile and of Charlotte De la Poer Beresford a daughter of George de la Poer Beresford Bishop of Kilmore 3 Career EditThe young Hay entered the diplomatic service and was promoted Attache 1900 Third Secretary in July 1902 4 Second Secretary 1906 First Secretary 1913 He was First Secretary in Copenhagen 1918 19 then briefly Charge d Affaires in Berlin on the United Kingdom s resumption of diplomatic relations with Germany in 1920 until the arrival of a British Ambassador He remained in Berlin as Counsellor until November 1921 and served finally as British High Commissioner to the Inter Allied Rhineland High Commission from December 1920 until his death in February 1928 5 He was also an author and belonged to the St James s Club He had two plays published and produced in London The Dream Kios and The Anonymous Letter 6 He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1927 1 Personal life EditIn 1900 he married Mary Lucy Victoria Mackenzie only daughter of Sir Allan Mackenzie 2nd Baronet of Glen Muick Aberdeenshire She inherited a fortune made by her grandfather in the indigo trade in India 1 Together they were the parents of two sons and one daughter 2 Josslyn Victor Hay 22nd Earl of Erroll 1901 1941 7 who married Lady Idina Sackville daughter of the 8th Earl De La Warr in 1923 2 Gilbert Boyd 6th Baron Kilmarnock 1903 1975 who married The Hon Rosemary Guest daughter of Ivor Guest 1st Viscount Wimborne He married secondly Denise Coker He changed his surname to Boyd in 1941 to inherit the barony of Kilmarnock after the death of his brother without male issue 2 Lady Rosemary Hay who married Lt Col Rupert Ryan She married secondly Maj James Gresham 2 He held the earldom only briefly and was succeeded by his elder son Lord Kilmarnock in 1928 6 Today his son and heir is best known for the unsolved case surrounding his murder and the sensation it caused during wartime in Britain 8 9 10 11 Shooting incident Edit On Wednesday 31 August 1910 Lord Kilmarnock was one of a shooting party at Balmoral with George V and friends Captain Hood later to become a rear admiral accidentally shot Kilmarnock who was in a shooting butt near him Kilmarnock s glasses were broken and he sustained a slight abrasion 12 The Buchan Observer reported 12 It appears that the accident happened about two o clock in the afternoon and that Captain Hood was in the next butt to his Lordship Captain Hood got on to the line of a bird just crossing between his butt and that of Lord Kilmarnock who was facing him When the trigger was pulled Lord Kilmarnock at once shouted to his companion who ceased firing immediately At the close of the drive he reported the accident to the King who expressed sympathy with both Lord Kilmarnock and Captain Hood His Lordship continued shooting all the afternoon and it was not until after dinner that Dr Mitchell was sent for Captain Hood who was greatly upset at the accident left the hill and returned to Braemar a short time after the occurrence 12 There followed exaggerated reports of the incident which Kilmarnock denied saying that he dined with the king on the Thursday night 12 One of those reports by The Darling Downs Gazette Toowoomba reported that it was George V who had shot Kilmarnock that Kilmarnock was badly wounded and that the most desperate efforts have been made to hush the whole thing up 13 Publications EditFerelith 1903 The Dream Kiss play produced at the Wimbledon Theatre 1924 The Anonymous Letter play produced at Q Theatre 1927Ancestry EditAncestors of Victor Hay 21st Earl of Erroll16 William Hay 17th Earl of Erroll 1772 1819 8 William Hay 18th Earl of Erroll 1801 1846 17 Alicia Eliot 1778 1812 4 William Harry Hay 19th Earl of Erroll 1823 1891 18 William IV king of the United Kingdom9 Lady Elizabeth FitzClarence 1801 1856 19 Dorothea Jordan 1761 1816 2 Charles Hay 20th Earl of Erroll 1852 1927 20 Arthur Gore 2nd Earl of Arran KP 1734 1809 10 Gen the Hon Sir Charles Stephen Gore KH GCB 1793 1869 21 Elizabeth Underwood 1829 5 Eliza Amelia Gore 1829 1916 22 Hon James Fraser 1759 1822 member of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia11 Sarah Rachel Fraser 1824 1880 23 Rachel Otis DeWolf 1773 1815 1 Victor Hay 21st Earl of Erroll24 Henry Peisley L Estrange of Moystown 1732 1796 12 Col Henry Peisley L Estrange of Moystown 1776 1824 25 Mary Carleton6 Edmund L Estrange 1813 1866 26 George Burdett 1735 1817 13 Grace Burdett27 Jane Frend3 Mary Caroline L Estrange 1849 1934 28 Hon Frederick Lumley Saunderson 1761 1831 14 Frederick Lumley Savile 1788 1837 29 Harriet Boddington 1810 7 Lady Harriet Susan Beresford Lumley Savile 1823 1904 30 George De la Poer Beresford bishop of Kilmore 1765 1841 15 Charlotte De la Poer Beresford 1851 31 Frances BusheReferences Edit a b c d EARL OF ERROLL DIES SUDDENLY British High Commissioner in Rhineland Is Stricken While at Coblentz SCOTLAND S HIGHEST PEER Descendant of William 11 and Godson of Victoria Noted for HisCharm and Tact The New York Times 21 February 1928 Retrieved 8 June 2020 a b c d e f Erroll Earl of S 1452 cracroftspeerage co uk Heraldic Media Limited Retrieved 8 June 2020 Kidd Charles Williamson David editors Debrett s Peerage and Baronetage 1990 edition New York St Martin s Press 1990 page needed No 27500 The London Gazette 2 December 1902 p 8366 ERROLL Victor Hay 21st Earl of at Who Was Who 1897 2006 online a b Late obiturary Earl of Erroll Observer Adelaide 25 February 1928 p 43 Retrieved 4 January 2020 TIMES Wireless to THE NEW YORK 25 January 1941 AUTO CRASH FATAL TO EARL OF ERROLL London Gets Word of Death in Kenya Colony of Lord High Constable of Scotland The New York Times Retrieved 8 June 2020 HINTS EARL OF ERROLL WAS MURDER VICTIM Doctor Finds Pistol Wound After Kenya Auto Accident The New York Times 28 January 1941 Retrieved 8 June 2020 KENYA KILLING LAID TO TITLED OFFICER Sir Delves Broughton Accused of Murder of Earl of Erroll After Fashionable Party MISSING PISTOLS HUNTED Younger Victim Had Escorted Bride of Suspect Home Suicide Ruse Rejected The New York Times 12 March 1941 Retrieved 8 June 2020 EARL OF ERROLL SEEN AS A BRITISH FASCIST Political Motive in His Murder Hinted as Kenya Trial Opens The New York Times 27 May 1941 Retrieved 8 June 2020 FREED IN KENYA MURDER Broughton Acquitted in 3 1 2 Hours of Killing Earl of Errol The New York Times 3 July 1941 Retrieved 8 June 2020 a b c d Mishap at King s shooting party Lord Kilmarnock struck by pellets Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser 6 September 1910 p 6 col 6 Retrieved 26 April 2022 The King shoots a friend Sensational mishap at Balmoral Darling Downs Gazette Toowoomba Trove 6 September 1910 p 7 col 5 Retrieved 26 April 2022 External links Edit Media related to Victor Hay 21st Earl of Erroll at Wikimedia Commons Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Erroll Lundy Darryl FAQ The Peerage unreliable source Peerage of ScotlandPreceded byCharles Gore Hay Earl of Erroll1927 1928 Succeeded byJosslyn Victor Hay Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Victor Hay 21st Earl of Erroll amp oldid 1128634337, 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