James Mackay

Background

James Mackay was born in about 1759, in the Parish of Kildonan, County of Sutherland, Scotland. He was the son of George and Elizabeth (McDonald) Mackay.

James came of a family that produced many distinguished men.

Education

Mackay was well educated, spoke French and Spanish fluently, and was a surveyor by profession.

Career

About 1776, James emigrated to Canada, where he joined a fur-trading expedition. He was employed by the British to explore the region of the upper lakes and the far West, hoping to open communication with the South Sea. After some years in this perilous occupation, which carried him as far as the Rocky Mountains, he went to Spanish Louisiana to partake of the privileges extended by the Spanish government to foreign settlers.

Although a Scotchman, he grew rapidly in favor with the Spanish government. In 1795, Baron de Carondelet appointed him director of the third expedition sent by the Spanish commercial company to explore the vast country on both sides of the Missouri River and across the continent to the Pacific Ocean and, incidentally, to construct forts for the protection of the Spanish trade.

In August 1795, with thirty-three men, he started from St. Louis on this enterprise which cost the Spanish government 104, 000 pesos. Thus engaged for two years, he brought about peace among the Indian tribes and between them and the Spanish, took possession of a British fort at the Mandan village, prepared a map of the region explored, and furnished the Spanish government with a journal of the expedition. Lewis and Clark made use of Mackay's map on their famous expedition to the Pacific Ocean.

In 1797, Mackay was appointed deputy surveyor by Antoine Soulard, the Spanish surveyor-general. As a reward for his services, he was made the captain of the militia and commandant of San Andres, a settlement on the south bank of the Missouri River, in St. Louis County, to which many Americans were attracted. He was given thirty thousand arpens of land, but this property became a burden to him, as only a small part was productive.

On May 20, 1799, Governor Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, at New Orleans, wrote to him and commended him for opening roads and establishing good regulations of military and civil police. He promised him great things in the future through Lieutenant-Governor Delassus and the Court.

Mackay remained commandant until the transfer of Upper Louisiana to the United States in 1804, when he was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions.

Achievements

• In 1816, Mackay was a member of the legislature of Missouri Territory from St. Louis County and served as major of militia.

Works

• book

  • R.B.: A Biography of Robert Burns

    (A biography of Robert Burns, arguably one of the world's ...)

Personality

Delassus's comments on his subordinates to the United States authorities described Mackay as "an officer of knowledge, zealous and punctual a recommendable officer with many good qualities".

Connections

Mackay was married to Isabella, daughter of John Long, on February 24, 1800, at St. Charles.

Father:

George Mackay

Mother:

Elizabeth (McDonald) Mackay

Wife:

Isabella Mackay

References

• James Mackay: a man to cherish 1761-1822