Macky, John
| Dates | 1692-1702, 1705-13 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | England | ||
| Vocation | Writer and spy | ||
| Place of Birth | Scotland | ||
| Marriage | |||
| Issue | |||
| Place of birth | Source | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
Of obscure origins but fled from France to London in 1692 with news of an intended Jacobite invasion. Initially disbelieved but vindicated and rewarded with an appointment as a costal inspector (of treasonable correspondence) between Harwich and Dover. Employed in counter-espionage, particularly the surveillance of disaffected Jacobites. Post office terminated his position with the star of the War of Spanish succession; Mackay was awarded half pay and left England for the island of Zante. Appears to have returned to England in late 1705. Secured appointment as an independent Post Office contractor (1706-13). Re-established his position in espionage for the surveillance of Jacobites and French activity. Helped to uncover James Stuart's attempted invasion of Scotland and the secret peace mission of Matthew Prior and François Gaultier. During Post Office contract, Mackay increasingly in debt and fled to Flanders to escape creditors. Died at Rotterdam (1726). Wrote a number of tracts including the popular 'A Journey through England in Familiar Letters' (1714), and followed by 'A Journey through Scotland' (1723), and 'A Journey through the Austrian Netherlands' (1725).
