Charles Low

Charles Mackay, born in Perth in 1814, was a Scottish poet, journalist, and author whose career spanned various literary and journalistic endeavors. He received his early education in London and Brussels, where he studied languages and began his writing career. Mackay worked as a private secretary to an ironmaster before returning to London to teach Italian. He established a significant career in journalism, contributing to several London newspapers and eventually becoming an editor for The Glasgow Argus and later The Illustrated London News. His travels also led to publications about his observations in North America. Mackay passed away in London in 1889.

While Mackay engaged in a broad range of writing, including novels and historical accounts, he is primarily remembered for his 1841 book, "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds." This work examined historical instances of mass hysteria and irrational behavior. He also delved into linguistic studies, proposing theories on the Gaelic origins of many European words, though these were met with skepticism by contemporaries. His songs also achieved considerable popularity in his time.

Charles Mackay's professional life was deeply rooted in journalism. He began contributing to London newspapers in the 1830s, serving as an assistant sub-editor for The Morning Chronicle. His career led him to Scotland, where he edited the Glasgow Argus before returning to London to work for The Illustrated London News, eventually holding the editor position. Mackay's journalistic work extended to foreign correspondence; he visited North America in the 1850s, documenting his experiences in "Life and Liberty in America." During the American Civil War, he returned to the continent as a correspondent for The Times, notably being the first to report on the Fenian conspiracy.

Mackay's extensive bibliography includes poetry, novels, and historical works. However, his most enduring legacy is "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" (1841), a study of historical manias and follies. He also explored etymology, particularly in "Gaelic Etymology of the Languages of Western Europe" and "Dictionary of Lowland Scotch." In these works, he posited that numerous English words originated from Scottish Gaelic, a theory that was considered highly speculative and was not widely accepted by his peers. Linguists later characterized him as an "etymological monomaniac," noting that his contemporary reputation did not take these linguistic endeavors seriously.