John Macky

John Macky (died 1726) was a Scottish spy and travel writer. Between 1688 and 1710 he ran a successful intelligence gathering network across the English Channel, principally concerned with Jacobite and French threats to England. He was also the author of several publications which reflected his travel, political outlook and access to leading figures of the period.

Biography Nothing is known of Macky's parentage or early life. Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Macky was sent to France by the English government to provide information about Jacobite activity. He successfully infiltrated the Jacobite court at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The operation proved too costly and faced with mounting debts, Macky turned to travel writing, producing his first volume in 1714. This was frequently reprinted, and was followed by a second volume in 1722, a third in 1723 and a fourth in 1725. The writings established for Macky a minor literary reputation, although he was best known to contemporaries for his writings on the English and French courts. In 1733 their son, Spring Macky, published Memoirs of the Secret Services of John Macky. The memoirs contain extensive biographies and descriptions of important political figures of the period, providing an early written example of extensive surveillance. Notes to the memoirs were appended by Jonathan Swift prior to publication.

Publications A View of the Court of St Germains from the Year 1690 to 1695 (1696) A Journey through England, Volume I (1714) and Volume II (1722) A Journey through Scotland, Volume III (1723), reprinted, with annotations and an introduction by Anne M. McKim, by The Grimsay Press (2014) A Journey through the Austrian Netherlands, Volume IV (1725) Memoirs of the secret services of John Macky (1733)