James Wilson McKay

Sir James Wilson McKay (12 March 1912[1] – 25 May 1992) was a Scottish businessman who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh between 1969 and 1972. A Freemason, he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1979 to 1983.

Life
Memorial to James Wilson McKay (central inscription), Cramond Parish Churchyard

McKay was born in 1912 in Bo'ness, the son of John McKay, an insurance superintendent,[2] and Alice Easton Wilson McKay.[1] He was educated at Dunfermline High School in Dunfermline, Fife.[2]

McKay was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1971 Birthday Honours and knighted by Elizabeth II on 16 November 1971 at Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II.[3][4] He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1971.[5]

From 1979 to 1983 he was Grand Master Mason of Scotland, the head of Scottish freemasonry.[6]

He died in Edinburgh on 25 May 1992. He was cremated and his ashes are buried against the south wall of Cramond Parish Church in north-west Edinburgh.

Artistic Recognition

He was portrayed in office by David Abercrombie Donaldson.[7]

Family

He was married to Janette (1917-2006), later Lady McKay.[8]

References
  1. "1912 MCKAY, JAMES WILSON (Statutory registers Births 663/1 83)". ScotlandsPeople. National Records of Scotland. October 1975.
  2. Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Kelly's Directories. 1973. p. 2288. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  3. "No. 45384". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1971. p. 5958.
  4. "No. 45527". The London Gazette. 23 November 1971. p. 12761.
  5. "Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh: Honorary Graduates". hw.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  6. "List of Grand Masters of Scotland | Masonic Forum of Light".
  7. "David Abercrombie Donaldson". wahooart.com.
  8. Grave of J W McKay, Cramond churchyard


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