Arthur Hay

Arthur was educated at an academy in Montrose and returned to Lerwick upon completing his education to work for his family's firm, Hay & Co, subsequently becoming a partner in the firm. Following the death of his brother, George, he assumed management of the business as the senior partner. During his tenure at the family firm, it was one of the largest employers in Shetland & was the sole largest shipowner.

As Chamberlain of the Lordship of Zetland, he engaged with tenants on his lands. The Shetland Times paints him as being on the side of the poor, saying "Not a few of the tenants on [Lord Zetland's] estate, as well as on the estate of Hayfield will sorry at his death, for in him the poor and needy, the widow and orphan ever found a sympathetic and generous friend. This claim is dubious, since Hay had testified against crofters in the 1883 Crofters Commission.

He held a long list of public positions including Deputy Lieutenant for the County, a Commissioner of Income Tax, Honorary Sheriff-substitute, a Justice of the Peace, a Commissioner of Supply, Vice-Convener of the Zetland County Council and a member of other boards and committees.

In politics, Arthur was an ardent Liberal during the Dundas campaigns. On the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, however, he did not support Gladstone and then became a Unionist.