John Duncan MackieCBEMC (1887–1978) was a distinguished Scottish historian who wrote a one-volume history of Scotland and several works onearly modern Scotland.
Born inEdinburgh, Mackie was educated atMiddlesbrough High School andJesus College, Oxford, where he took a first-class degree in history and won theLothian Essay Prize. He was appointed as a lecturer in history at theUniversity of St Andrews in 1909, aged 22. While at the university he introduced the subject of Scottish history into the curriculum.[1]
During theFirst World War, he served in theArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was awarded aMilitary Cross. He was wounded in both the stomach and in the shoulder. In both cases he received innovative treatment. For the stomach wound (caused by a machine-gun) he was treated at amilitary hospital inRouen. Sterilised water was dripped right through his stomach and he recovered well. The shoulder wound was received in the last days of the war. He nearly had to have his arm amputated but he opted for a new treatment in which the nerve was knotted. However, he never regained full use of his left hand and suffered considerable pain for the remainder of his life. He returned to St Andrews after the war, before being appointed professor of modern history atBedford College,University of London, in 1926.
He wasProfessor of Scottish History and Literature at theUniversity of Glasgow from 1930 to 1957. It was during these years that he wroteThe Earlier Tudors 1485-1558 (Oxford University Press). An influential volume,The Earlier Tudors was a new analysis of Tudor administration – the business of government. In 1957 he retired, and was appointedHistoriographer Royal for Scotland.
Mackie returned to the University of Glasgow lecture hall in 1961 in the capacity of emeritus professor.
He died inHaslemere in 1978 and was buried atGrayswood church. His medals are in the regimental museum of theArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders atStirling Castle. TheLetters Patent appointing him Historiographer Royal were sent to theHunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Professor of Scottish History and Literature, Glasgow 1930 to 1957 | Succeeded by George Pryde |
| Court offices | ||
| Preceded by Henry Meikle | Historiographer Royal 1958 to 1978 | Succeeded by |
