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The first historic chief was Angus (1380-1429). He was
assassinated, and the Clan was ruled by his younger son, until the rightful
heir obtained his release from captivity on the Bass Rock, 1437. The latters
son was Chief and led the Clan in the cruel fight of Blair Tannic,
Caithness. In 1628 Sir Donald MacKay of Strathnaver, Chief of the Clan, was
created Lord Reay, with the remainder of his heirs, male, bearing the name
and Arms of MacKay. The major portions of the estates was sold in the 17th
century to pay the cost of maintaining and transporting 2000 men, whom Lord
Reay recruited for foreign service to assist the protestant cause in the
great 'Thirty Years', War. The earliest Gaelic charter extant was granted by
Donald Lord of the Isles, to Brian Vicar MacKay in 1408. |
