Hay MacDowall

Lieutenant general Hay MacDowall (died March 1809) was a British Army officer who was the sixth General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. He was appointed on 19 July 1799. He was succeeded by David Douglas Wemyss. Fort MacDowall in Matale was named due to his involvement during Kandyan Wars. Only the remnants of gateway and portion of the ramparts are exist today.

MacDowall served in Flanders in 1793 and after serving as Commander-in-Chief in Ceylon from 1798 to 1804 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army in 1807. Made Colonel of the 41st Regiment of Foot in 1808, he was lost at sea near the Cape of Good Hope in March 1809.