George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay facts for kids

George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay (1678–1748), was an important Scottish noble and the leader, or chief, of Clan Mackay. This was a Scottish clan from the Scottish Highlands. During his life, a big event called the Glorious Revolution happened, which affected his family and lands. As chief, he also helped the British government during two major rebellions: the Jacobite rising of 1715 and the Jacobite rising of 1745.

Early Life of Lord Reay

George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, was the only son of Donald Mackay. Donald was known as the Master of Reay. His mother was Ann, daughter of Sir George Munro. Sadly, George's father, Donald, died in an accident in 1680. A barrel of gunpowder exploded while he was hunting. Not long after, his grandfather, John Mackay, 2nd Lord Reay, also passed away. Because of these sad events, young George Mackay became the 3rd Lord Reay. He took on this important role after his grandfather.

The Glorious Revolution and Clan Mackay

The years between 1680 and 1688 were tough for religious groups in Scotland. The House of Stuart kings were making unpopular decisions. Charles II of England died in 1685. His brother, James II of England and VII of Scotland, became king. James made many Scots, especially the Covenanters, very angry. He also upset many noble families. Finally, in 1688, the Stuarts were removed from power. This event is known as the Glorious Revolution. William of Orange became the new ruler.

The Mackay family lands in Strathnaver had offered safety to Covenanters who were being treated unfairly. John Mackay, 7th of Aberach, a leader from a branch of the clan, also supported the Covenanters.

The Jacobite Rising of 1689

After the Glorious Revolution, a rebellion started in 1689. This was called a Jacobite rising. Its goal was to bring the exiled Stuart kings back to the throne. William of Orange chose a Mackay clansman, General Hugh Mackay of Scoury, to lead his forces in Scotland.

General Hugh Mackay was defeated by the Jacobites at the Battle of Killiecrankie. However, the Jacobite leader, John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee, was killed in that battle. This Jacobite rising eventually failed. It was defeated at the Battle of Dunkeld and the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.

General Hugh Mackay continued to support William of Orange. He fought in the Williamite War in Ireland. Sadly, he was killed in 1692 at the Battle of Steenkerque in Belgium.

Around 1693 or 1694, young George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, traveled to Holland. His two uncles, Aneas and Robert Mackay, were serving there as high-ranking military officers. One uncle died in 1696, and the other in 1697. Many men from Strathnaver, especially Mackays, became soldiers for hire in other countries during this time.

In December 1702, George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, married Margaret. She was the daughter of General Hugh Mackay of Scoury. Lord Reay received the lands of Eddrachilis and Scoury as part of her dowry. This was a valuable addition to the Reay Estate.

The Jacobite Rising of 1715

In 1714, Anne, Queen of Great Britain, died without children. The crown then went to George I of Great Britain. He was from the House of Hanover in Germany. He was a grandson of James VI of Scotland.

The Jacobite rising of 1715 began to support the exiled James Francis Edward Stuart. His followers called him James VIII. This rebellion was led by the Jacobite John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar.

John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland, who supported the British government, arrived in Scotland. He landed by boat at his home, Dunrobin Castle, on September 28, 1715. A week later, he set out with 400 of his people. He went to Tain. There, he met George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay. Lord Reay was waiting with 500 Mackays and 200 Rosses to support the government.

At Alness, they were joined by the Munros. Their combined force grew to 1800 men. They also had six small cannons. However, the Jacobite force advancing towards them was much larger, with 3000 men. This force was led by William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth.

In what is now called the Skirmish of Alness, the Earl of Sutherland and Lord Reay decided to retreat. They went back over Bonar Bridge into Sutherland. After this, the Earl of Seaforth joined forces with the Earl of Mar. But the Jacobite rising failed. A major battle, the Battle of Sheriffmuir, on November 14, 1715, ended without a clear winner. On the same day, other Jacobites were defeated at the Siege of Inverness (1715).

The Earl of Seaforth quickly returned towards Inverness from Sheriffmuir. However, Inverness had already fallen to government supporters. A group of government-supporting clans set out to fight Seaforth. This group included 200 Sutherlands, 150 Mackays, 300 Grants, 150 Munros, and 50 Forbes of Culloden. Seaforth avoided them and escaped to Brahan Castle. He then fled to the Isle of Lewis and from there to France. Other Jacobites, including the Earl of Mar, also went into exile.

The Jacobite Rising of 1719

In 1718, a war started between Britain and Spain. Some Jacobite clans, like Clan Macdonald of Clanranald and Clan Cameron, joined forces with a Spanish army. This Spanish division landed in western Ross-shire in April 1719.

At the Battle of Glen Shiel, the Mackays and Sutherlands supported the government. They were placed on the right side of the battle line. The Jacobites were defeated in this fight.

Also in 1719, George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, was an elder in the Kirk (Church of Scotland). He asked the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for help. He wanted more clergymen and school teachers for his people. His plan included dividing the large parish of Durness into three smaller parishes: Tongue, Durness, and Ederachilis. Each new parish would have its own minister and school teacher. In 1725, the General Assembly approved his ideas.

The Jacobite Rising of 1745

Between 1741 and 1744, there was a political disagreement between Lord Reay and the Earl of Sutherland. This argument started in 1737 over land ownership. However, when the Jacobite rising of 1745 began, Lord Reay understood that those who supported the government needed to work together. He then arranged a bond of friendship with Sutherland.

At the request of Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden, Lord Reay, Sutherland, Grant, Seaforth, and Munro sent troops to Inverness. They joined John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, who supported the government. Lord Loudoun was gathering all available troops.

George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie, was a Jacobite rebel. His son, John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod, was also a rebel. (This is not the same as the Laird of MacLeod, who supported the government.) Lord MacLeod tried to invade the Mackay lands of Strathnaver. But the Mackays were ready to fight. So, Lord MacLeod backed down. The Mackay force was probably led by Hugh Mackay of Bighouse, Lord Reay's son.

On March 25, 1746, Lord Reay's son, Captain George Mackay of Skibo, led a group of Mackays. At the Skirmish of Tongue, they captured money and supplies meant for the Jacobites from a French ship. They also took 156 Jacobites prisoner.

In response, the Jacobite commander, Charles Edward Stuart, sent a large force north. This force was led by George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie. However, they arrived too late to help. They were surprised and attacked by the 2nd Sutherland Company and the 2nd Mackay Company. This battle was called the Battle of Littleferry. The Jacobite force was completely defeated, losing about 100 men. This defeat stopped them from providing much-needed support to the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden. That major battle happened the very next day.

George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, then traveled to Leith on a ship called The Sheerness. This ship had been involved in the Skirmish of Tongue. Lord Reay stayed in the south until the autumn. In a letter dated September 2, 1746, Lord Reay suggested building new churches. He also wanted to spread the Gospel among those who were unhappy with the government. George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, was a Fellow of the Royal Society. He died at Tongue on March 21, 1746.

Family Life

George Mackay, 3rd Lord Reay, was married three times.

His first wife was Margaret, daughter of General Hugh Mackay of Scoury. They had one son:

• Donald Mackay, who became the 4th Lord Reay.

His second wife was Janet, daughter of John Sinclair of Ulbster. They had the following children:

• Hugh Mackay of Bighouse, who was a Captain in an Independent Highland Company. He supported the government during the Jacobite rising of 1745.
• Ann Mackay

His third wife was Mary, daughter of John Dowell. They had the following children:

• George Mackay of Skibo, who was also a Captain in an Independent Highland Company. He supported the government during the Jacobite rising of 1745.
• Alexander Mackay, a Captain in the Loudon's Highlanders regiment. He supported the government during the Jacobite rising of 1745.
• Mary Mackay
• Harriet Mackay
• Christian Mackay
• Marion Mackay

See also

• Lord Reay
• Chiefs of Clan Mackay
• Scottish clan