Sarah Elizabeth Hay-Williams

Lady Sarah Elizabeth Hay-Williams (née Amherst; 9 July 1801 – 8 August 1876) was an English artist and botanical illustrator.^[1][2] She was born on 9 July 1801 to Sarah Amherst and William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst.^[3] She travelled with her parents to India and while there completed several watercolour paintings now held in the collection of the British Library.^[4][5][6] She later married Sir John Hay-Williams in 1842. In 1846 Hay-Williams contributed a watercolour to Edwards's Botanical Register.^[7] After returning to the United Kingdom she had two children including Margaret Verney.^[8] She died in 1876 at Chateau Rhianfa in Anglesey on 8 August 1876.^[7]

Sarah Elizabeth Hay-Williams
Born	Lady Sarah Elizabeth Amherst (1801-07-09)9 July 1801
Died	8 August 1876(1876-08-08) (aged 75) Chateau Rhianfa, Anglesey, Wales
Nationality	British
Known for	watercolour painting
Spouse	Sir John Hay-Williams ​ ​ (m. 1842; died 1859)​
Children	2, including Margaret
Parents	William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst (father) Sarah Archer (mother)
Relatives	William Amherst (brother) Sir Harry Verney, 4th Baronet (grandson)

Illustration by Sarah Elizabeth Hay-Williams

The leguminous tree Amherstia nobilis is named by Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich in honour of her and her mother Sarah Amherst.^[9]