Robert Hay Drummond

Robert Hay (10 November 1711 – 10 December 1776), known later as Robert Hay-Drummond of Cromlix and Innerpeffray, was successively Bishop of St Asaph, Bishop of Salisbury, and, from 1761 until his death, Archbishop of York.

Hay was the second son of George Hay, Viscount Dupplin (who succeeded his father as eighth Earl of Kinnoull, in 1719), and Abigail, the youngest daughter of Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, Lord High Treasurer. He was born in London on 10 November 1711. His birth was mentioned by Jonathan Swift in the Letters to Stella, and his infancy is thus referred to by Richard Bentley in the dedication of his edition of Horace to Lord Oxford, on 8 December 1711: Parvulos duos ex filia nepotes, quorum alter a matre adhuc rubet. ("Two small grandsons from his daughter, of whom one is still red from his mother").

At age 6, he was brought by

Drummond was consecrated Bishop of St Asaph in Kensington Church on 24 April 1748. The 13 years spent by him in this see were among the happiest of his life. He was deservedly respected, and he "constantly mentioned the diocese with peculiar affection and delight." He would seem to have dispensed the large patronage of the see with sound judgement. He was not, however, in advance of his age. He made no attempt to popularise the church among the Welsh-speaking population of the diocese, and publicly expressed his hope "that people would see it their best interest to enlarge their views and notions, and to unite with the rest of their fellow-subjects in language as well as in government."

In 1761, Drummond was translated to

The change of policy which speedily followed the accession of George III, when indignities were heaped upon the leading members of the old Whig party, aroused the indignation and disgust of the archbishop. Except when his duty as a churchman called for it, he ceased his attendance at the House of Lords, and retiring to his own private mansion of Brodsworth Hall in Yorkshire, of which we are told he 'made an elegant retreat,' he devoted himself to the vigorous oversight of his diocese and the education of his children, which he personally superintended. In 1749, he married Henrietta, daughter of Peter Auriol, a merchant of London, by whom he had a daughter followed by six sons. He instructed his children himself. History, of which he had an extensive and accurate knowledge, was his favourite subject, and his son gratefully records 'the perspicuous and engaging manner' in which he imparted his instruction, and the lucidity with which he traced the continuity and connection of all history, sacred and profane, 'with the zeal and fervour of honest conviction.' For the use of his children he drew up some clear and comprehensive chronological tables.

As a bishop he was certainly quite on a level with the standard of his age. A somewhat extensive collection of his letters existing in manuscript proves him to have been a good, sensible, practical man of business. In his religious views he was strongly opposed to

Six of the archbishop's sermons which had been printed separately at the time of their delivery were collected by his youngest son, the Revd George Hay Drummond, and published in one volume in 1803, together with a short memoir and A Letter on Theological Study. These sermons display clearness of thought and force of expression, the matter is sensible and to the point, the composition is good, and the language dignified. The Letter on Theological Study was written to a young friend, and not intended for publication. The advice as to the selection of books is very sensible, and free from narrowness, wide reading being recommended, including works not strictly theological.

In 1766, he lost his eldest daughter at the age of 16, and in 1773, his wife died. He never recovered this last blow, and died at Bishopthorpe on 10 December 1776. By his own desire he was buried under the altar of the parish church, with as little pomp as possible. Of his five sons the eldest, Robert Auriol, succeeded his uncle, Thomas Hay, as 10th earl of Kinnoull, 1787. A portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds was engraved by Watson. A small medallion portrait is prefixed to his sermons.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Hay Drummond.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Drummond, Robert Hay". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.