Family and Education

b. 23 Apr. 1707, o.s. of Alexander Mackye, or McKie, M.P. [S], of Larg and Palgowan by Christian, 2nd da. of Sir James Dunbar, 1st Bt., of Mochrum, wid. of Maj. Thomas Young of Leny, Wigtown. educ.?Edinburgh Univ.; Leyden 1728; adv. 1731. m. 28 July 1755, Jane, 1st da. of George Ross, 13th Lord Ross [S], sis. and h. of William, 14th Lord Ross [S] (whom she suc. 1754), s.p. suc. fa. 1733; assumed add. name of Ross before Mackye 1755.

Offices Held

Treasurer of the Ordnance 1763-80; receiver gen. of stamp duties 1780-94.

Biography

One of the group known as the Duke of Argyll’s gang,1 Mackye voted with the Opposition in all recorded divisions. At the 1747 election he moved to the county where, with the backing of the Duke of Queensberry and Lord Selkirk and, surprisingly, with that of the lord justice clerk, Andrew Fletcher (Lord Milton), he ousted a government candidate, who was supported by Fletcher’s master, the former Lord Ilay, now 3rd Duke of Argyll.2 Continuing in opposition throughout this Parliament,3 he subsequently attached himself to Lord Bute, to whom he acted as private secretary. He died in October 1797.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

• 1. John Drummond to Ld. Morton, 2 and 4 Dec. 1742, Morton mss, SRO.
• 2. Argyll to Pelham, 23, 26 July, 1 Aug. 1747; John Maxwell to Pelham, 4 Aug. 1747, Newcastle (Clumber) mss,
• 3. List of 21 Mar. 1754, ibid.