Advocate. Son of Alexander Mackie, MP (b. ca. 1684, also spelt Mackye, McKay) and Christian Dunbarr (born ca. 1685). Married (1755) to Jane Ross of Halkhead (dead before 1777), daughter of George Ross, 13th of Hawkhead, and Elizabeth Kerr. Member of Parliament (1742-1768).1 Private secretary to Lord Bute. Treasurer and Paymaster at the Office of Ordnance from May 10, 1763, to November 28, 1780. Receiver General of His Majesty's Public Office of Revenue (1780-1794). Mackye was a friend of James Boswell's father, both being Edinburgh advocates of about the same age.
- 1John Ross Mackye was elected MP for Linlithgow Burghs in 1742 and from 1742 until 1768 for Kirkcudbright.
Boswell mentions meeting Mackye a few times in Boswell's London Journal e.g.: November 25, 1762, at Lord Eglinton's, and December 5, 1762, where he had breakfast at Mackye's. While in London, Boswell got franks (free postage) from Mackye due to his position as MP. They most likely knew each other before then, and also met occasionally for the years to come (of which at least their meetings on April 16, 1775, and April 30, 1783, are mentioned in Boswell's journal).