Alexander Murdoch Mackay
Encyclopedia
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. He studied at the Free Church Training School for Teachers at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, then at Edinburgh University, and finally at Berlin. He displayed a great aptitude for mechanics, and spent several years as a draftsman in Germany.
In 1875, he offered his services as a missionary to the Church Missionary Society, was accepted, reached Zanzibar on his way to his field on 30 May 1876, and then to Uganda in November 1878. There, largely through his knowledge of practical mechanics, he enjoyed the protection of Mutesa; but when Mwanga
Mwanga
Mwanga may refer to:* Mwanga I of Buganda* Mwanga II of Buganda, the last monarch of an independent Buganda* Danny Mwanga, a Major League Soccer striker* Mwanga District, a district of the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania...
came to the throne in 1884, Mackay's position became difficult because of the king's opposition, and there was little change when Kiwewa succeeded to the throne in 1888. Mackay still held on, however, and it is largely due to his courage, energy, and devotion that the mission in Uganda was in its flourishing condition in 1914.
He fell victim to a malarial fever, and succumbed after four days of illness, having spent fourteen years in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
without a return to his native Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.