Career
Educated at Causewayside and Sciennes Public Schools, Edinburgh, he initially worked as an interior decorator. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland from 1947–1950, and was joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1964-1970. He was appointed Vice-President of the Trustee Savings Bank Association in 1957.
He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1969.
On 4 July 1970 following his retirement from the House of Commons, he was created a life peer as Baron Hoy, of Leith in the County of the City of Edinburgh.