Biography

Charles Mackay was born in Perth, Scotland. His mother died when he was an infant. In 1828 he began attending school in Brussels, where he learned French and German, and later Spanish and Italian. In 1830 he became a secretary to William Cockerill. From 1835 to 1844 e served as assistant sub-editor of the "Morning Chronicle." In 1844, he moved to Scotland and became editor of the "Glasgow Argus." In 1846, he began song-writing. In 1852, he became editor of the "Illustrated London News." In 1860, he established the "London Review." From 1862 to 1865 he served as special correspondent of the 'Times' at New York. Mackay traveled through the United States and Canada, and published his findings in Life and Liberty in America: or Sketches of a Tour of the United States and Canada in 1857–58. He also was a Civil War correspondant for The Times, and it is possible that he became acquainted with WHS during this time. He died in London, on December 24, 1889. He was married twice. First to Rose Henrietta Vale and secondly to Ellen Mills.