William McKay

Lt.-Colonel William McKay (1772 – 18 August 1832) is remembered for leading the Canadian Forces to victory at the Siege of Prairie du Chien during the War of 1812. After the war, he was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs at Drummond Island in what was then Upper Canada. Previous to the war, McKay was a noted fur trader who had travelled widely in Canada. He was a partner of the North West Company and a member of the Beaver Club at Montreal. He was a brother of Alexander McKay, who accompanied Sir Alexander Mackenzie to the Pacific Ocean in 1793.

Born at Mohawk River Valley, he was the son of Donald McKay, a former soldier with the 78th Fraser Highlanders, and his wife Elspeth Kennedy. His father, a native of Golspie, Sutherland, fought at the Battle of Quebec. At the end of the Seven Years' War, his father was discharged from the British Army and settled at Mohawk River. During the American War of Independence, Donald McKay served with the King's Royal Regiment of New York and was afterwards one of the original United Empire Loyalists who settled at Glengarry County, Upper Canada.