Background
MACKAY, James Lyle was born on September 11, 1852 in Arbroath, Forfarshire.
MACKAY, James Lyle was born on September 11, 1852 in Arbroath, Forfarshire.
Arbroath; Elgin.
Went to India, 1874; member Legislative Coimcil of the Viceroy of India, 1891-1893. Director, Suez Canal, British India Steam Navigation Company, and National Provost Bank of England. Member, Council of India, since 1897.
Served on the Committee appointed by Government to inquire into the question of increasing the commercial intelligence provided by the Board of Trade, 1898-1899. His (or Her) Majesty’s Special Commissioner and Plenipotentiary to negotiate and agree a new' Commercial Treaty with China. After spending a year in China, signed the new Treaty at Shanghai, 5 September 1902.
Served on a Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Atlairs to report on the possibility of improving the Consular Service of Great Britain, 1903. Served on a Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for India to inquire into the expediency or otherwise of retaining the Cooper’s Hill College, 1903. Was appointed one of the representatives of His (or Her) Majesty Government to confer with representatives of the United States and Mexican Governments on the question of introducing the Gold Standard into Mexico and China, 1903.
Served on Lord Jersey’s Committee to inquire into the status and working of the 1294 Board of Trade and Local Government Board, 1903-1904. Member of Committee appointed by Board of Agriculture to inquire whether a preference was given by English railways to foreign produce conveyed over English lines. Member of Committee appointed by Treasury to inquire into working of Government workshops, 1905-1907.
Member of Committee appointed by Treasury to consider the advisability of a national indemnity for ships and cargo in time of war, 1906-1907. Chairman of Committee appointed by Secretary of State for India in regard to the finance and working of Indian railways, 1907. Member of Committee appointed by Secretary of State for India to inquire into Military Family Pension Fund. K.C.1.E., cartulary-register 1894; merchant; partner in Mackinnon, Mackenzie, and Company, Calcutta, Bombay, and Kurrachee, and Gray, Dawes, and Company, London.
Clubs: Athenaeum, Oriental.
Spouse 1883, Jane,daughter of James Shanks.