Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay

Who was Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay?

Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay, known as Sir Donald Mackay, 1st Baronet, from 1627 to 1628, was a Scottish peer and soldier.

Mackay was the eldest son of Huistean Du. He was created a Baronet, of Strathnaver, in 1627 and the following year he was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as Lord Reay, of Reay in the County of Caithness. In 1626 he raised a regiment under a charter from King Charles I, with which he served with distinction in Denmark, then under Gustavus Adolphus in the Thirty Years' War. He later fought as a Royalist in the Civil War.

Lord Reay was married four times. He married, firstly, Barbara Mackenzie, sister of Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth, in 1610. He married, secondly, Rachel Winterfield or Harrison, sometime before 1631. This marriage was annulled. He married, thirdly, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Thomson, and fourthly, Marjorie, daughter of Francis Sinclair. Lord Reay died in February 1649, aged 57, and was succeeded in his titles by his son John.