Mural monument to Major General Andrew Hay (1762-1814) by Humphrey Hopper (1764/5-1844).
In 1779, Andrew Hay was appointed ensign in the 1st Regiment of Foot before being promoted to captain in the 88th Regiment of Foot. After briefly returning to the 1st, Hay continued his career serving is various regiments. In 1803 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 16th and 72nd Battalions of the Army Reserve. Before he was appointed major-general in 1811, Hay commanded several brigades, taking part in battles at Corunna, Walcheren, Busaco, Salamanca, Vitoria, San Sebastian, Bidassoa, Adour, Nive, and Bayonne. On 14 April 1814, while commanding an outpost at Bayonne, Hay was mortally wounded. Following his death, a monument was erected at St Étienne, Bayonne by his fellow officers.
The commission of the monument to Andrew Hay at St Paul’s Cathedral was awarded to sculptor Humphrey Hopper in 1814. Works by Hopper were first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1799 and continued to be so until 1834/5. Before he began work on the Hay monument, Hopper had preciously exhibited portraits of busts of prominent political and military men in the hopes of gaining commissions, but he proved unsesseful. His monument at St Paul’s was not widely well received, as it is often his most criticised piece of work. However, Hopper enjoyed greater success with following works, and was often employed in the creation of smaller scale funeral monuments.
ERECTED AT THE PUBLIC EXPENSE TO THE MEMORY OF / MAJOR GENERAL ANDREW HAY, / HE WAS BORN IN THE COUNTY OF BANFF IN SCOTLAND, / AND FELL ON THE 14TH. OF APRIL 1814, / BEFORE THE FORTRESS OF BAYONNE IN FRANCE, / IN THE 52ND. YEAR OF HIS AGE, AND THE 34TH OF HIS SERVICES. / CLOSING A MILITARY LIFE MARKED BY / ZEAL, PROMPT DECISION, AND SIGNAL INTREPIDITY.Hopper / Sculptor
