George Hay (bishop)

George Hay (1729-1811) was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop. He served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District of Scotland from 1769 until his resignation in 1805.

Born in Edinburgh, Hay was originally a physician. He converted to Catholicism after witnessing the piety of captured Jacobite soldiers he treated following the Battle of Culloden in 1746. He was ordained as a priest in 1758.

Hay was consecrated bishop in 1769 as Titular Bishop of Daulis. He is credited with revitalizing the Catholic Church in Scotland during a period of persecution and suppression. He established schools and seminaries, fostered vocations to the priesthood, and wrote extensively on religious subjects. His writings, including The Sincere Christian Instructed and The Devout Christian Instructed, were widely popular and influential in promoting Catholic doctrine and piety. He also worked to improve the living conditions of Catholics in the Lowlands.

He resigned his position as Vicar Apostolic in 1805 due to failing health and died in Edinburgh in 1811. He is remembered for his significant contributions to the Catholic Church in Scotland during a difficult period in its history. He is often referred to as "The Apostle of the Lowlands."