[5] Promoted to captain – in recognition of his services at Eupatoria – on 27 November 1854[6] and, having been appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 5 July 1855,[7] Hay was given command of the fifth-rate HMS Forth in December 1855.

[2] Returning to sea, he became Captain of the paddle frigate HMS Odin on the East Indies and China Station in September 1859 and took part in the Battle of Taku Forts in August 1860 during the Second Opium War.

[2] Promoted to vice-admiral on 31 December 1877,[13] he was sent to the Mediterranean in July 1878 to take control of Cyprus and to occupy it in accordance with decisions reached at the Congress of Berlin.

[2] Hay became Second Naval Lord in April 1880 and, having been advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 24 May 1881,[14] he went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, hoisting his flag in the central battery ship HMS Alexandra in February 1883.

[15] He was promoted to full admiral on 8 July 1884[16] and, in his role as Commander-in-Chief, provided support for the Nile Expedition to relieve Major General Charles Gordon.