Basic Biographical Details

Name: Harbourne Marius Straghan Mackay (or Mckay)
Designation:  
Born: 8 May 1835
Died: 25 November 1920
Bio Notes: Harbourne Marius Straghan Mackay (or Mckay) was born in Rafford, Morayshire on 8 May 1835, the son of George MacKay, minister, subsequently of Rafford Free Church and his wife Helen. He was educated in Forres and at Elgin Academy but returned to Forres to start work in the office of a solicitor.

He was articled to Peter MacBey and began business on his own account as a land surveyor in 1859 as advertisements appear in the local newspapers at that date for his new business. Despite this he is still recorded as living with his parents at Burgie Lodge Farm in the Census of 1861 as a farmer employing 13 labourers. By 1871 he is a bank agent for the North of Scotland Bank and land surveyor. In 1881 he is simply recorded as 'bank agent'.

In the 1860s he was employed on surveying the Buchan lines of the Great North of Scotland Railway. In the 1870s he worked with the Incorporation of Trades of Elgin on aspects of drainage and street improvements in New Elgin. Between 1865 and 1890 he was road surveyor of Elgin and undertook factoring duties on a number of estates. He employed William Cameron (1860-1939) as an assistant in the 1880s indicating that his business was flourishing.
In 1882 he employed also Charles Chree Doig as assistant and later partner and the latter extended the work of the practice to civil engineering and architecture, specialising in distillery work, with jobs as far away as Ireland. In 1882 MacKay was involved in a court case in which he was accused as trustee of the father of the pursuer of claiming that some cattle were his where in fact they were the property of the pursuer.

After the death of his brother in 1897 Mackay took over the tenancy of Burgie Lodge Farm. He was particularly interested in the breeding of Clydesdale horses and Shorthorn cattle. He was interested in the promotion of auction marts. He was involved with the building of Glenlossie Distillery but it must have been a financial involvement as it was designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. He became company director.
Mackay held a number of public offices outwith his profession. He was a Commissioner of Supply for Elginshire from 1861 and served on the County Council and Elgin Town Council as well as being involved with local health and education organisations and an office-bearer in the Free Church.

MacKay died in Elgin on 25 November 1920.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 5Rafford, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1840s1860s 
Item 3 of 5Union Bank Buildings, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusiness1859  
Item 4 of 53, Reidhaven Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1863  
Item 5 of 5St Albans, Duff Avenue, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1910  

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Mackay & Doig (or McKay & Doig)After 1882 Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Charles Chree Doig1882 Assistant 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 4After 1859House, High StreetElgin MorayshireScotlandRemodelling
Item 2 of 41865Newmill HouseElgin MorayshireScotlandAddition of wing
Item 3 of 41868Garvald, NewmillElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 4 of 41881School Acre feuing planElgin MorayshireScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Aberdeen Journal27 May 1882   
Item 2 of 4Elgin Courier19 November 1863   
Item 3 of 4Northern Scot27 November 1930  p.6 col 1-2
Item 4 of 4Scottish Local History201591 Srping /Summer issue

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of Douglas LockhartInformation sent to 'Contact Us' on website Sent October 2014
Item 2 of 2HM New Register HouseOPR (Register of births)OPR Rafford 140/3 f.78