John Mackay was born in Thurso, in the parish of Reay, Caithness. He was christened on 13 Nov 1820 and enlisted at Thurso on 5 Feb 1839, aged 18. He served for 15 years with the 79th and reached the rank of sergeant major on 1 Feb 1849. He was described as being 5’ 11” tall, brown hair and grey eyes. He was discharged at the age of 33 with his character described as exemplary but unfit for further service. On 9 May 1854 he was admitted as an out-pensioner of HM Royal Hospital Chelsea and received a pension of 1 shilling and 3 pence a day. He had an older brother, Henry Mackay who also served in the 79th and was also sergeant-major before being given a commission and appointed as adjutant. Henry also left the regiment in 1854. John Mackay is one of the figures in the 1853 painting by Cunliffe. His uniform is described in the Uniforms section.
