Background
Mackay was born at Copperfield, near Clermont in Queensland, to Scottish-born carpenter Hugh Mackay and Jane, née Baird.
Mackay was born at Copperfield, near Clermont in Queensland, to Scottish-born carpenter Hugh Mackay and Jane, née Baird.
He attended the state schools at Clermont and Bundaberg before becoming an apprentice printer at the Peak Downs Telegram in 1887.
In 1894 he was promoted to foreman printer, and finally became managing editors He was elected to Clermont Toun Council in 1882 and served as mayor 1900-1902. Mackay moved to Lismore in New South Wales in 1902 before leasing a dairy farm at McLean"s Ridge.
In 1911 he was elected to Gympie City Council.
He was mayor in 1917. Mackay was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in 1912 as a Liberal member, representing the seat of Gympie.
In the House of Representatives he was known as a competent public speaker with a penchant for quoting figures. Serving on the Joint Committee on Public Works (1920-1928, chairman 1926-1928), he was involved in the development of Canberra and the building of the Australian War Memorial.
He stated that he had "no time for extremists or muddlers", and was known to dislike the Country Party.
In March 1934 he announced his retirement, stating that "one may remain in parliament too long". After his retirement, Mackay was interested in bowls, and he was president of the Gympie Bowling Club 1936-1939. He died on 5 November 1961 at Gympie and received a state funeral.
He was buried at Gympie Cemetery.
He was survived by a son.
In 1931, the Nationalist Party became the United Australia Party, and on 11 February 1932 Mackay was elected Speaker.