Neil Mackay, 8th of Strathnaver

Neil Mackay, 8th of Strathnaver, was in the 15th century the eighth chief of the ancient Clan Mackay, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. He is sometimes also recorded as Neil Bass Mackay or Neil Wasse Mackay which was a nickname taken from the fact that for a time he was a prisoner on the Bass Rock.

Early life and imprisonment

Neil Mackay, 8th of Strathnaver was the eldest son of Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver and his wife Elizabeth, sister of Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles. In 1427 his father, Angus Du Mackay, was called by James I of Scotland with many other Highland chiefs to a "parliament" at Inverness. The call to a parliament was a ruse and the king had the chiefs arrested, some he killed and some he released. The result was that although Angus Du Mackay was released, his son Neil was kept as a hostage and imprisoned on the Bass Rock. While Neil was kept as a prisoner his father’s cousins, Neil Neilson Mackay and Morgan Neilson Mackay, attempted to take over the Mackay lands of Strathnaver with the support of the Murrays of Aberscross and the Clan Sutherland. However, they were defeated by Angus’s forces who were led by his second son, John Mackay, I of Aberach at the Battle of Drumnacoub in 1433, although Angus was killed. were defeated. They had the following children: Angus Roy Mackay, 9th of Strathnaver, who was killed at the Battle of Tarbat in 1486. John Roy Mackay, who had a son called William Roy Mackay. Elizabeth Mackay who married John MacGillion of Lochbuie, chief of the Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie.