James Mackay (Australian politician)
| Major General James Mackay CB, OBE, VD | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
|
In office 18 October 1899 – 22 April 1934 | |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Boorowa | |
|
In office 24 July 1895 – 15 September 1899 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Slattery |
| Succeeded by | Niels Nielsen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
5 June 1859 Wallendbeen, New South Wales |
| Died |
16 November 1935 (aged 76) Cootamundra, New South Wales |
| Political party | Protectionist Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch |
New South Wales Military Forces (1885–01) Citizens Military Force (1901–20) |
| Years of service | 1885–1920 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands |
1st Light Horse Brigade (1912–14) New South Wales Imperial Bushmen (1900) 1st Australian Horse (1897–00) West Camden Light Horse (1885–86) |
| Battles/wars |
Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches Volunteer Officers' Decoration |
Major General James Alexander Kenneth Mackay CB, OBE, VD (5 June 1859 – 16 November 1935) was an Australian soldier and politician.
Born at Wallendenbeen Station near Wallendbeen to pastoralist Alexander Mackay and Annie Mackenzie, he attended Camden College and Sydney Grammar School before farming at his father's property. In 1885 he joined the military volunteers and raised the West Camden Light Horse; he was a commissioned as a captain in 1886. He published three books of poetry and two novels from 1887 to 1908, using the pseudonym Kenneth Mackay; in 1896 he published a play, To the West, a collaboration with Alfred Dampier. In 1897 he raised the first Australian Volunteer Light Horse Regiment, and he was elevated lieutenant colonel in 1898. In 1895 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Boorowa, serving until 1899, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council, where he would remain until 1934. Mackay served as Vice-President of the Executive Council from 1899 to 1900 and from 1903 to 1904. From 1900 to 1901 he served in the Boer War commanding the 6th Imperial Bushmen's contingent of New South Wales, during which time he was mentioned in despatches. Promoted colonel and then brigadier in 1912, in that year he was also appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath and awarded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration. In 1920 he was promoted brigadier general and later retired as a major general; he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on his retirement. Mackay died at Cootamundra in 1935.[1]
References
- ↑ "Mr Thomas Michael Keegan (1878–1937)". Parliament of New South Wales. 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2011.