Angus Mackay (Queensland politician)

Angus Mackay (15 August 1834 – 8 February 1910) was a journalist, trade commissioner, agricultural researcher and lecturer, and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Angus Mackay
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Brisbane South
In office 22 November 1878 – 24 March 1880
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Simon Fraser
Personal details
Born	Angus Mackay (1834-08-15)15 August 1834 Wick, Caithness, Scotland
Died	8 February 1910(1910-02-08) (aged 75) Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish Australian
Spouse	Marjory Ross
Occupation	Journalist, politician, lecturer

Early life

Mackay was born in Wick, Caithness, Scotland,^[1] more specifically, Strathnaver in the Mackay county,^[2] to John Mackay and Ann née Gordon.^[1] He was educated in Helmsdale.

At some time he had been a bridge worker in London, a compositor for the New-York Tribune, an overseer for a cotton plantation in Georgia, US, and with the NSW Department of Agriculture.^[1]

He arrived in Queensland in 1862,^[2] and at one time, lived at Milton.^[3]

Careers

Journalist

Mackay was the first editor of The Queenslander (published from 1866 to 1939),^[4] and was listed as the agricultural editor.^[5]

After 1877 on return to Queensland from Philadelphia, he became the editor c. 1884 of the Australian Town and Country Journal.^[6][7]

Concluding as an agricultural professor in Sydney by 1897,^[6] and briefly working in Victoria, he returned to Scotland for his health, and became ajournalist with The Celtic Monthly: A magazine for Highlanders (published from 1876 to 1912) in Glasgow, Scotland.^[8]

Researcher

He published several works including:

• The sugar-cane in Australia (1883),^[9][10]
• The semi-tropical agriculturalist, and colonists' guide (1875; 224 pages),^[11][12]
• Treatise on the native grasses of Australia (receiving the 1875 first prize by the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland),^[2]
• The Australian agriculturalist and colonists (1890),^[13] and
• Introduction to Australian agricultural practice, for teachers and pupils in Public Schools (1890), a manual produced by the NSW Public Instruction Department.^[13]

He also presented various articles at the annual Queensland Exhibition, including on cotton in 1875.^[14]

Trade commissioner (1876 World Fair)

Mackay was made the Queensland trade commissioner to the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[15][2][16] Leaving in January 1876, he was tasked with promoting Queensland mining and industry, and authorised to purchase labour-saving and other devices at the Exhibition.^[2] Exhibits included 200 specimens, 3 feet (0.91 m) long and 6 inches (150 mm) square, of Queensland timber, and ores such as tin and copper.^[17]

A NSW orchardist and businessman attending the Exhibition in July observed:^[18]

But Queensland, for good management, takes the palm. I don't know who had the arrangement of this department, but certainly he deserves credit. The space was nicely divided, the goods were well classed, and everything could be seen with ease. The minerals were all in order on shelves close to the walks ; behind them were a row of woods; and a great variety they had. Above them, and all around the department, were pictures giving views of all parts of Queensland, showing farm and station life, first, second, and third class lands; and giving a stranger a better idea of the country than almost anything else could. The centre space was filled up with heavy goods, and showed well. I say, Well done, Queensland! though youngest, not least.

Mackay returned in February 1877 to a warm reception and praise.^[19] Many of the devices purchased were displayed at the Queensland Exhibition in September 1877.^[20]

He also made notes about constructing low-cost railways across Queensland, and tabled a report to government in March 1877;^[21] reviewed the lines from Rockhampton to the Comet River;^[22] and continued in his persistent views when a politician, which were credited with informing the public.^[23][4]

Politician, Queensland (1878–1880)

Having lived in the electoral district of South Brisbane for sixteen years, and after waiting for the dissolution following the death of sitting member T. B. Stephens MLA, he came forward as a candidate in October 1878.^[24] One of his interests was to see a railway line come to the electorate, and where placed, could "obviate the necessity of increasing taxation", as well as tramways.

He was the member for the state seat of Brisbane South from 1878 until 1880.^[1]

Mackay resigned in March 1880, although the party leader of the liberal faction, Samuel Griffith had waited some days before tabling the document to Parliament, where:^[25]

His delicate health and the worry and turmoil of parliamentary life are altogether unsuited to his habits and temperament. Besides Mr. Mackay can serve the people of Queensland much better out of Parliament than in it.

Professor of agriculture, Sydney

Mackay was later a lecturer when agricultural classes were commenced in 1887,^[6] becoming the highly respected Professor of Agriculture at the Sydney Technical College c. 1880.^[26][27][1] (He was given to be a lecturer by November 1886, so he may have started earlier.)^[28] He used the post-nominals FCS, indicating he was a Fellow of the Chemical Society.^[13]

During his time he delivered a lecture on "dairy farming" (1888),^[29] a series of lectures on "Irrigation as a means of improving our agricultural prospects" (1888),^[30] and looked at the gumming disease in sugar cane in the Clarence River area in the north of the State in 1893.^[31][32] He occupied the position until 1897,^[6] given "the state of his health led him to seek change and rest in his mother land".^[8]

Residing in Balmain,^[33] it appears the former "Chief Instructor in Agriculture for New South Wales Government"^[34] did not immediately return to Scotland, as in April 1897 he left "to fill an important position at the Wesley College, under the Victorian Government".^[35]

Later life

Mackay married Marjory Ross in London, and together had one son and six daughters (including William d. 1912, John Ross 1863–1864, Marjory b. 1865,^[36] Angus b. 1876, Johanna b. 1869, Angus b. 1871, Elizabeth Catherine b. 1867, Jean b. 1879).^[1]

For the newly-formed Highland Society of Queensland in 1866, Mackay was designated "first chieftain (treasurer)".^[37] He was a member of Clan Mackay, and the Southamptom Caledonian Society.^[8]

He died in Portobello, Edinburgh, in February 1910.^[27]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
2. "Mr. Angus MACKAY, Late Queensland Commissioner at Philadelphia". Australasian Sketcher. Vol. V, no. 55. South Australia. 9 June 1877. p. 7 (Adelaide edition). Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Mr. Angus MACKAY". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser. Vol. XVI, no. 2213. Queensland, Australia. 1 March 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "Mr. Angus MACKAY and cheap railways". The Queenslander. Vol. XVIII, no. 275. Queensland, Australia. 27 November 1880. p. 688. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Classified Advertising". The Queenslander. Vol. II, no. 100. Queensland, Australia. 28 December 1867. p. 12. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Personal". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 9609. New South Wales, Australia. 16 March 1910. p. 9. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "The Australian Town & Country Journal". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XXIX, no. 739. New South Wales, Australia. 8 March 1884. p. 16. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Social gossip". The Queenslander. Vol. LXIII, no. 1393. Queensland, Australia. 2 August 1902. p. 278 (unknown). Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "The sugar cane in Australia". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 3, 285. Queensland, Australia. 24 April 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "Upper Mary". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. No. 941. Queensland, Australia. 16 August 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "A new book on agriculture". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XIX, no. 775. New South Wales, Australia. 8 May 1875. p. 581. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "Review". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 802. Queensland, Australia. 24 April 1875. p. 5. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "Publications received". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 16, 221. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
14. "Queensland Exhibition". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 869. Queensland, Australia. 12 July 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "Farewell banquet to Mr. A. MACKAY". The Toowoomba Chronicle and Queensland Advertiser. No. 1040. Queensland, Australia. 23 October 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "Death of Mr. Angus MACKAY". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. New South Wales, Australia. 17 March 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "How Queensland will appear at the Philadelphia Exhibition". Warwick Examiner and Times. Vol. IX, no. 451. Queensland, Australia. 30 October 1875. p. 2. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "A trip home after twenty years, and what I see by the way (Franklin JACKES)". The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 6 October 1876. p. 6. Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
19. "General News". The Queenslander. Vol. XII, no. 81. Queensland, Australia. 3 March 1877. p. 31. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
20. "The Queensland Exhibition". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XXIV, no. 896. New South Wales, Australia. 1 September 1877. p. 532. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
21. "Mr. Mackay's Report on Low Cost Railways and Bridges". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXI, no. 3, 078. Queensland, Australia. 31 March 1877. p. 6. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
22. "Railway engineering in Queensland". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. Vol. XXXV, no. 4709. New South Wales, Australia. 13 July 1878. p. 14 (Second sheet to Maitland Mercury). Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
23. "Scientific & Useful: Railway communication with South Brisbane". The Queenslander. Vol. XIV, no. 159. Queensland, Australia. 31 August 1878. p. 685. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
24. "Mr. Angus MACKAY at South Brisbane". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 1, 872. Queensland, Australia. 18 October 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
25. "Resignation of Mr. Angus MACKAY". The Week (Brisbane). Vol. IX, no. 222. Queensland, Australia. 27 March 1880. p. 9. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
26. "Milk Testing—A Simple Appliance". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. LI, no. 1328. New South Wales, Australia. 20 July 1895. p. 25. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
27. "Death of Mr. A. MACKAY". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 16 March 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
28. "Mr. Angus Mackay on Dairying". The Shoalhaven Telegraph. Vol. 7, no. 468. New South Wales, Australia. 24 November 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
29. "Mr. Angus Mackay's Lecture". Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser. Vol. XXVIII, no. 2339. New South Wales, Australia. 11 February 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
30. "Irrigation". The Mildura Cultivator. Vol. I, no. 16. Victoria, Australia. 30 August 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
31. "Sugar-cane disease". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 21 January 1893. p. 119. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
32. "Special Telegraphic Service". Clarence and Richmond Examiner. New South Wales, Australia. 17 March 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
33. "Presentation to Mr. Angus Mackay". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 9266. New South Wales, Australia. 15 February 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
34. "Advertising". The Age. No. 13061. Victoria, Australia. 9 January 1897. p. 7. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
35. "Presentation to Mr. Angus Mackay". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 9317. New South Wales, Australia. 15 April 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
36. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XIX, no. 2, 277. Queensland, Australia. 17 May 1865. p. 6. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
37. "News of the Week". The Queenslander. Vol. I, no. 19. Queensland, Australia. 9 June 1866. p. 5. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Thomas Blacket Stephens	Member for Brisbane South 1878–1880	Succeeded by Simon Fraser