Charles MacKay and mad crowds

[rich]

Does anyone know if Charles MacKay has any family connections to Caithness?

MacKay (1814-1889) wrote a very timely book - Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds (1841). It is till in print in several editions

Every time I pass the wind farms on the Cassiemire I think of him.

MacKay was born in Perth and had an extraordinary career. He was a writer of popular songs, a colleague of Charles Dickens, and a great defender of Mormons.

Also he was the father of the romantic novelist Marie Correli.

[rich]

Here is a biographical account

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jmackay.htm

[rich]

The internet is a wonderful resource. I have found MacKay's book on the Mormons.

http://books.google.com/books?id=XTiGGpsQZ98C&dq=charles+mackay+mormons&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=imyMJa_haq&sig=VxZqBNMob3teJtKSfst1FaBm_ec&hl=en&ei=gdcmSsalEYugM4aQ7YoF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA9,M1

If this URL is too long for your hard drive then go to Google and enter Charles MacKay mormons

And that's enough heavy scholarship....

[rich]

But I couldn't resist a post on Marie Correli aka Marie MacKay. She was the illegitmate daughter of Charles by his housekeeper whom he married after the death of his wife. Great steamy Victorian stuff!!!!

http://www.oldstratforduponavon.com/mariecorelli.html