Argus. He was married in 1831, and by his first wife had three sons—Charles, Robert, and George Eric, and also a daughter, who died when she was twenty-two years of age. Of the sons, Charles is still living, being resident in America with his wife and family. Robert is dead, but is survived by a son and a daughter. Of George Eric Mackay, the second of the three sons, more will be told anon.
During Charles Dickens's brief editorship of the London Daily News, a number of verses by Mackay were published in that newspaper, and attracted much notice and praise. They were subsequently republished in a volume as "Voices from the Crowd." A selection of these verses was set to music, and quickly caught the ear of the people, "The Good Time Coming" reaching a circulation of well-nigh half a million.
In 1848 Mr. Mackay became a member of the staff of The Illustrated London News, and in 1852 was appointed editor of that journal. Here, through the enterprise of Mr. Ingram, the song-writing capacities of Mr. Mackay were put to good use, and a number of musical supplements of The Illustrated London News were produced. "Songs for Music" afterwards appeared as a volume in 1856. The pieces included such prime favorites as "Cheer, Boys, Cheer!" "To the West! To the West!"
