Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

THE CELTIC MONTHIvY:
A MAGAZINE FOR HIGHLANDEliS.
Edited by JOHN MACKAY, Glasgow.
No. 12 Vol. VII.]
SEPTEMBER. 1899,
[Price Threepence.
W. T. MACKAY, MIDDLESBROUGH.
IJT^lHE ancestors of the dis-
V^ tinguished family to
'^^ which Mr. Mackay
belong.s, hailed originally from
the neighbourhood of Tain,
Ross-shire, and are believed to
be c^ets of the Melness
branch of the clan. His
grandfather, Andrew Mackay,
LL.D.,F.R.S., wasa man of great scientific attain-
ments, and in addition to a professorship of
mathematics, held the responsible postof examiner
for Trinity House, London, and also for the East
India Company; and his fatlier, George Gray
Mackay, in conjunction with an elder brother, .John
Selby Mackay, took a principal part in founding
the Grangemouth Coal Company. His brother,
Major A. Y. Mackay, is the popular president
of the Clan Mackay Society ; while his cousin is
Provost of Grangemouth.
Mr. Mackay was born 31st July, 1847;
educated at Dollar Academy ; and thereafter
spent five years in the ottice of the Grangemouth
Coal Company. In 1S70, he went to Germany
to study languages ; but having heard on arrival
at Hamburg that war was declared with France,
he returned to Scotland with one of the last
steamers which managed to escape the blockade
of the Elbe. The two following years were,
however, spent in Germany and France studying
the languages. On 1st January, 1875, he settled
in Middlesbrough as manager for the firm of
George G. Mackay, the well-known ship-owner
and merchant of Grangemoutii. Eight years
later lie commencc^d business on his own account
as steamship broker and commission agent ; and
also acts as agent for Messrs. James Rankine il*
Sons' well-known line of steamers to Rotterdam,
and for steamers trading between Bilboa and
Middlesbrough.
Although absent from Scotland for so many
years, he has never ceased to take an interest in
ari'airs affecting his native land. The Clan
Mackay Society (of which he and his brothers
and cousins are all life members), naturally
claims his special interest, and he intends taking
part with his brothers in the tour in the Reay
country which the members of the clan have
arranged to commence from Thurso on 6th
September. Mr. Mackay has never seen the
ancient home of the Mackays, and looks forward
with keen interest to meeting his clansmen in
the Mackay country, and to visiting the romantic
places familiar by name to those acquainted
with the history of the clan. He was present
at the Clan Gathering held in Glasgow last
winter, at which his brother presided.
In September, 1883, he married Lilian, second
daughter of Mr. D. D. Wilson, Bon Accord
Lodge, Middlesbrough, a native of Aberdeen-
shire (General Manager for the Stockton and
Middlesbrough Water Board), and has three
children surviving. We have much pleasure in
giving Mrs. Mackay 's portrait along with that
of her husband.
AUTUMN IN THE HIGHLANDS.
^J&jRiH'ND the mountain's brow the mist wreaths
i^^^ twine.
Like ghosts of ancient storms they come and go.
Haunting the regions of eternal snow.
That weird, mysterious world whose border line
Man may not cross. On the wide slopes combine
Green brake and purple heather's vivid glow,
And stretching to the horizon's verge below
The crystal loch and dancing wavelets shine.
By hoary, lichened scaur, in dusky glen,
t In shell-strewn shore — on lonely, wind-swept
isle —
( >n solitude of moor or lofty Ben,
The eager lieart may cease from care awhile,
And con within its depths the calm content.
Of Nature's peace and grandeur eloquent.
Janet A. M'Culloch.