Alexander Murdoch Mackay (13 October 1849 – 4 February 1890) was a Scottish

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

missionary to

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

known as Mackay of Uganda.

Life

Mackay was born on 13 October 1849 in

Rhynie, Aberdeenshire Rhynie () ( gd, Roinnidh) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is on the A97 road, northwest of Alford. The Rhynie Chert is named after the village as well as the fossil plant genus ''Rhynia''. The Rhynie Chert is a sediment deposited i ...

, the son of Rev Alexander Mackay LLD (1813-1895) and his first wife, Margaret Lillie (1825-1865).Ewing, William ''Annals of the Free Church'' He studied at the Free Church Training School for Teachers at

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, then at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, and finally in Berlin. He displayed a great aptitude for mechanics, and spent several years as a

draughtsman A draughtsman (British spelling) or draftsman (American spelling) may refer to: * An architectural drafter, who produced architectural drawings until the late 20th century * An artist who produces drawings that rival or surpass their other types ...

in Germany. Mackay decided to become a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

after

Henry Morton Stanley Sir Henry Morton Stanley (born John Rowlands; 28 January 1841 – 10 May 1904) was a Welsh-American explorer, journalist, soldier, colonial administrator, author and politician who was famous for his exploration of Central Africa Cen ...

was told by

Mutesa I of Buganda Muteesa I Mukaabya Walugembe Kayiira (1837–9 October 1884) was the 30th Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda, from 1856 until 1884. Biography He was born at the Batandabezaala Palace, at Mulago, in 1837. He was the son of Kabaka Ssuuna II Kalema ...

that

wanted missionaries. He joined the

Church Missionary Society The Church Mission Society (CMS), formerly known as the Church Missionary Society, is a British mission society working with the Christians around the world. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted over nine thousand men and women to serve as mission ...

in 1876. Mackay reached

Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands ...

on 30 March 1876, followed by Uganda in November 1878. He taught various skills to the

Ugandan people This article is about the demographic features of the population of Uganda, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Population ...

, including

carpentry Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters tr ...

and

farming Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

. He was named ''Muzungu wa Kazi'' by the Ugandans. The name means "white man of work." Mackay's work in Uganda came under threat after Kiwewa came into power. He worked in Uganda until 1890. He became sick with

malarial fever Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue (medical), tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In se ...

and died four days later on 4 February 1890 aged only 40.

Bibliography

* ''Alexander M. Mackay, Pioneer Missionary of the Church Missionary Society in Uganda; by his Sister''. London, 1899. * A. E. Macdonald (pseud. of

Andrew Melrose Andrew Melrose (5 February 1860 - 6 November 1928''The Times'' obituary; 7 November 1928) was a British publisher. Although he was noted for publishing theological works, he was also active in promoting new fiction, and offered a substantial ca ...

). ''Alexander Mackay, Missionary Hero of Uganda''. London, 1893. * ''Mackay of Uganda. The story of the life of Mackay of Uganda'' by his sister. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1906. 323 pages. * Fahs, Sophia Lyon.
Uganda's White Man of Work: A Story of Alexander M. Mackay
'. New York:

Young People's Missionary Movement Young People's Missionary Movement of the United States and Canada (commonly, Young People's Missionary Movement, or simply, Movement) was an American publisher of Christian missionary educational literature and provider of missionary studies throu ...

(1907). * "The Greatest Missionary since Livingstone", an Address by Professor Anthony Low, at St John the Baptist's Parish Church, Canberra, ACT, 15 October 2000.

Notes

References

* *

External links

Alexander Mackay biographies
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackay, Alexander Murdoch Scottish Presbyterian missionaries Presbyterian missionaries in Uganda Scottish evangelicals 1849 births 1890 deaths

Life

See also

Bibliography

Notes

References

External links