Charles Mackay was a Scottish journalist and song writer. He was born in 1814 at Perth and died in 1889. From 1844 to 1847 he edited the 'GlasgowArgus' and in 1852 the 'London Illustrated News'. During the American Civil War he was war correspondent for the Times, but he achieved contemporary fame as a song writer. Research Charles Mackay
John Graham, ViscountDundee, commonly known as Claverhouse, was a Scottish soldier. He was born about 1650 and died in 1689. He was the eldest son of Sir William Graham of Claverhouse and was educated at St Andrews. He went abroad and entered the service of France and afterwards of Holland, but, failing to obtain the command of a Scottish regiment in the Dutch service, he returned to Scotland in 1677, where he was appointed captain of a troop of horse raised to enforce compliance with the establishment of Episcopacy. He distinguished himself by an unscrupulous zeal in this service, especially after the murder of Archbishop Sharpe in May, 1679. The Covenanters were driven to resistance, and a body of them defeated Claverhouse at Drumclog on the 1st of June. On the 22nd, however, the Duke of Monmouth defeated the insurgents at Bothwell Brig, and Claverhouse was sent into the west with absolute power.
In 1682 he was appointed sheriff of Wigtonshire, and, assisted by his brother David, continued his persecutions. He was made a privy-councillor, and received the estate of Dudhope, with other honours from the king, and although on the accession of James his name was withdrawn from the privy-council it was soon restored. In 1686 he was made brigadier-general, and afterwards major-general; and in 1688, after William had landed, he received from James in London the titles of Lord Graham of Claverhouse and ViscountDundee. When the king fled he returned to Edinburgh, but finding the Covenanters in possession he retired to the north, followed by General Mackay. After making an attempt on Dundee, Claverhouse finally encountered and defeated Mackay in the Pass of Killiecrankie on the 17th of July, 1689, but was killed in the battle. Research John Graham
J (John) Gregory Smith was an American politician and railroadmagnet. He was born in 1818 at St Albans, Vermont and died in 1891. He attended the University of Vermont and Yale Law School, and was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1842. His father was a lawyer who was actively involved in the expansion of the railroads in Vermont and J Gregory joined him both in the practice of law and railroad management. John Smith was on the board of the Vermont Central Railroad, a railroad chartered in 1843 and headquartered in Northfield, and was president of the Vermont and CanadaRailroad, which he had started in 1845 to eventually connect the Vermont Central Railroad with Montreal. Upon his father's death in 1858, J Gregory Smith became president of the Vermont Central Railroad and his brother, Worthington C. Smith, was named president of the Vermont and Canada. The Central VermontRailroad was organized in 1873 and assumed management of both the Vermont Central and Vermont and Canada Railroads. In 1883 the Consolidated Railroad of Vermont
was formed to purchase the Vermont Central and Vermont and Canada property, and immediately leased it to the Central VermontRailroad thereby consolidating the Smith family's railroad holdings. The family expanded their holdings to include related industries such as the St. Albans Foundry, the National Car Company, and its subsidiary the Vermont Iron and Car Company. While expanding his holdings in Vermont and the northeast,
J Gregory Smith became interested in the idea of a railroad to the west and became president of the Northern PacificRailroad Company in 1866, a position he held until 1872. Smith was also active in politics and was elected to the state senate in 1858 and 1859. In 1860, 1861, and 1862 he was elected to the house as a representative of St. Albans, and served as speaker of the house. In 1863 Smith was elected governor and served two terms before retiring to devote time to his duties as the president of Central Vermont and the Northern PacificRailroad.
J Gregory Smith married Ann Eliza Brainerd of St Albans in 1843 and together they had six children: George Gregory (who married Frances Lewis), Edward Curtis (who married Anna B. James), Lawrence (who died in infancy), Annie B., Julia B. (who married Oliver Stevens), Helen L. (who married D. SageMackay). Research J Gregory Smith
Duggan: Shadow of a Doubt is a crime thriller starring John Bach, Fiona Mogridge, Toby Leach and Scott Macky in a story about a woman leading an apparently idyllic life until her daughter disappears in mysterious circumstances. Duggan: Shadow of a Doubt was directed by Yvonne Mackay in 1998. Research Duggan: Shadow of a Doubt
Fear Of Flying is a thriller starring Craig Sheffer, Tom Berenger and Jennifer Beals in a story about a group of passengers who take a flight to try and cure their phobia of flying, only to be hijacked by terrorists with a nerve gas bomb. Fear Of Flying was directed by David Mackay in 1999. Research Fear Of Flying
HMS Mackay (formerly HMS Claverhouse) was a British Campbell Class destroyer of 1530 tons displacement launched in 1918. She was armed with five 4.7-inch guns; one 3-inch anti-aircraft gun; two 2-pounder pompom anti-aircraft guns; one machine gun; four Lewis guns and six 21-inch torpedo tubes arranged in two triple mountings. She was powered by Yarrow oil boilers providing a top speed of 36.5 knots and carried a complement of 183. Research Mackay
Foirt William is a town at the foor of Ben Nevis in Highland, Scotland. The original fort, afterwhich the town was named, was built by General Monk in 1655 to subdue the local clans, and was named after William III. The fort was rebuilt in 1689 by General Mackay and was strengthened in the 18th century and remained garrisoned until 1855 after which the railway reached the town and the fort was demolished and the town grew. Research Fort William
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Porridge
