James McKay


1808 - 1876

Sea captain and early Mayor of the City of Tampa in Florida. Born in Thurso (Caithness), McKay spent the first half of his life at sea, before immigrated to the USA in 1846. He became an early resident of Tampa, establishing a series of businesses there and serving as its Mayor (1959-60). He was the first to transport cattle to Cuba. During the American Civil War, he became a blockade runner and was responsible for supplying food to the Confederate Army.

He lies buried in Tampa.


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