James Mackay (1804 – 29 May 1875) was a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the 1st New Zealand Parliament. He is remembered for the incident with Henry Sewell in Parliament in 1854.
Early life
James Mackay was born in 1804 in Aberdeen, Scotland, the second son of Alexander Mackie and Elspet (née Davidson). Though his father was the owner of a large shipping company in Aberdeen, James reinvented himself as being born and bred a highlander, which is a likely reason for him assuming the name Mackay.
As a young man he moved to London where he was employed as a banker, probably by Lloyds, as he remained their agent in Nelson until 1859. He had studied political economy and free trade principals under John Ramsay McCulloch, which he claimed meant that he supported all measures which had a progressive tendency. Politically, he participated in committees and actively supported liberal causes such as the passing of the Reform Bill, which gave greater suffrage to common people.
Family and emigration to New Zealand
thumb|upright|Portrait of the Mackay family by [[William Allsworth in 1844 prior to them emigrating to New Zealand]]
In about 1831, when they were both 27, Mackay married Ann Charles. From 1829 to 1848 they had eight children, the first six being born in London and the youngest two in New Zealand. They also raised two sons of his late younger brother, who were born in Edinburgh. At the end of 1844 the family embarked from London on the Slains Castle for Nelson, New Zealand. Before leaving, Mackay commissioned a painting which portrays the family as highlanders departing Scotland in tartans and travel attire, stocked with sheep, calves, poultry, ploughs and other accoutrements required for starting a new life in a distant land. He joined the volunteer forces and had the rank of captain. He was also a magistrate.
Political career
When representative government was established in New Zealand in 1853, he became a member of the House of Representatives for the Town of Nelson. In 1862 he married Ann Adney Shuckburgh, who was 20 years his junior. They had two daughters, born in 1863 and 1864. He spent his later years farming, and though still taking an active interest in local politics, he was reluctant to re-enter public office. In early 1874 he fell from a loaded cart while working on his farm. The injury to his back, though it seemed minor at the time, grew into a tumour which eventually left him paralyzed. He died in May 1875 at the age of 71.