The Hannay Baronetcy, of Mochrum in the Stewardry of Kirkcudbright, was a title in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. It was created on 31 March 1630 for Robert Hannay. The title became dormant on the death of the second Baronet in 1689. The title was claimed in 1783 by Samuel Hannay, the third Baronet. He sat as Member of Parliament for Camelford. His son, the fourth Baronet, was in the service of the Emperor of Austria. He was unmarried and the baronetcy again became dormant on his death in 1842.
Hannay baronets, of Mochrum (1630)
Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum, 1st Bt. was born circa 1598. He was the son of Alexander Hannay of Sorbie. He married Jane Stewart. He died on 8 January 1657/58 at Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. He was buried on 24 January 1657/58 at Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. He died intestate and his estate was administered to his son, Sir Robert Hannay on 29 November 1658. He held the office of Clerk of the Nichells [Ireland] between 19 October 1629 and 30 May 1639. He was created 1st Baronet Hannay, of Mochrum, co. Kirkcudbright [Nova Scotia] on 31 March 1630, with a special remainder to his heirs male.
Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum, 2nd Bt. was the son of Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum, 1st Bt. and Jane Stewart.mHe died on 30 April 1689 at Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland, without issue. He was buried at St. Michael's Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet Hannay, of Mochrum, co. Kirkcudbright [N.S., 1630] on 8 January 1657/58. He gained the rank of Captain of Foot in 1661. On his death, his baronetcy became dormant for nearly 100 years. ...
Born. c.1742, 2nd son 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.
Hannay, who combined the lives of an eminent London drug merchant and a Scottish baronet with considerable East Indian investments, was also addicted to gambling, and apparently went through several fortunes. From 1765 onwards, Hannay appears merely as a merchant; but in 1790 in partnership with William Duncan as a drug merchant. His brother Alexander was a lieutenant-colonel in the Indian army; another brother, Ramsay, was in trade from India to China. Samuel Hannay himself had important Indian (City and shipping) interests; he was one of the creditors of the Nawab of Arcot.
In 1784, Hannay was on the list of Government candidates recommended by Richard Atkinson, and was one of those willing to pay £2,000 or £2,500 or perhaps £3,000. He stood at Ilchester but was defeated; next, Jonathan Phillips vacated for him the seat at Camelford. He voted with Pitt over Richmond’s fortifications plan, 27 Feb. 1786, and the impeachment of Impey, 9 May 1788, but left him during the Regency crisis together with his colleague at Camelford, James Macpherson, ‘both of whom were annoyed because Pitt had refused to allow Sir John Macpherson to return to India’. ‘Sir John Macpherson’, wrote James Grant to Lord Cornwallis, 18 Mar. 1789, ‘... took the opportunity of going over to the Rising Sun in the first boat ... he carried off his namesake and Sir Samuel Hannay.’
Hannay died 11 Dec. 1790. The Gentleman’s Magazine (1790, p. 1151), in Hannay’s obituary note, describes him as ‘formerly an eminent chemist’. By 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.