Note
"A Visitation of the Seats and Arms fo the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland", John Bernard Burke, 1854
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Colonel Alexander Hannay deserves a memoir as one of the ablest and most distinguished men that his ancient family ever produced. AlexanderHannay entered the King's service about the middle of the last century (mid 1700's) and was all through the German campaigns, (including the Battle of MInden,) under the Marquis of Granby. When peace came he was a Lieutenant, and, supported by a splendid testimonial from his Commander-in-Chief, he offered his services to the East India Company. They gave him a Captaincy, and he was wrecked in the bay of Bengal, with the company under his command; suffering great hardships thus, at the onset of his Indian career. IN a few years, however, he rose to be Adjutant-General of the Army of INdia; and Warren Hastings's period found him commanding the forces of the Nabob of Oude.
Properity has not allowed the great and gloomy impeachment which darkened Hasting's name for a time, to hide the glory of his genius, or the greatness of the empire he obtained for England; and Colonel Hannay will not be judged in our day by the voices of the Whig pamphleteers of that period.
Hastings admired cordially Hannay's talents and character, and there is only one voice among the witnesses on the same subject. Colonel Hannay displayed heroic courage and great abilities, during a difficult and dangerous career, and under circumstances, where you cannpt judge of a man's actions by the standard of ordinary life at home, in an old country. He died in India.