George Mackay of Skibo (c. 1715 – 25 June 1782[1]) was a Scottish lawyer, soldier and politician. He fought for the British Government during theJacobite rising of 1745 and was later aMember of Parliament.[2]
Mackay was a younger son ofGeorge Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay and his third wife Mary Dowell.[2]He was educated at theUniversity of Aberdeen and became anadvocate in 1737.[3]
TheClan Mackay supported the British Government during theJacobite rising of 1745. George Mackay was Captain of the 1st MackayIndependent Highland Company that was raised byDuncan Forbes, Lord Culloden to oppose theJacobites.[4] George Mackay took an active part in theSkirmish of Tongue in March 1746 when money and supplies that were destined for the Jacobites were captured from a French ship.[5][6] He also led his independent company in theRaids on Lochaber and Shiramore.[7] This led to acommission in the regularBritish Army, from which he retired in 1748.[3]
He was elected at the1747 general election as theMember of Parliament (MP) forSutherland, having unsuccessfully contested the seat in1741.[3]He was re-elected in1754, and held the seat until1761,[1][2]when his younger brotherAlexander was elected in his place.[8]
In 1756, he was appointedMaster of the Mint for Scotland in 1756.[2][3]
George Mackay came into possession ofSkibo Castle through his maternal uncle, Patrick Doull of Winterfield.[2] However it was already heavily burdened and continued that way while under Mackay's ownership but he later disposed of the property.[2]
George Mackay married Anne Sutherland, daughter ofEric Sutherland, 4th Lord Duffus on 13 September 1766.[2] They had the following children:[9]
The names of the men in George Mackay'sIndependent Highland Company during theJacobite rising of 1745 were:[10]
Quoting from theLoudoun Papers held in theHenry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSutherland 1747–1761 | Succeeded by |