Albert Mackey

Albert G. Mackey
Photograph of older man Albert Mackey about 1870
Born	(1807-03-13)March 13, 1807 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	Fortress Monroe, Virginia, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Physician
Known for	Pioneering Masonic author and encyclopedian

Albert Gallatin Mackey (March 12, 1807 – June 20, 1881) was an American medical doctor and author. He is best known for his writing many books and articles about freemasonry, particularly the Masonic Landmarks.

Biography

File:Albert Mackey grave - Glenwood Cemetery - 2014-09-14.jpg

Grave of Albert Mackey at Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Albert Gallatin Mackey was born in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of John Mackey (1765 - December 14, 1831), a physician, journalist and educator, and his wife. His father published The American Teacher's Assistant and Self-Instructor's Guide, containing all the Rules of Arithmetic properly Explained, etc. (Charleston, 1826), the most comprehensive work on arithmetic that had been published in the United States. His brother was Edmund William McGregor Mackey, later a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina.

After completing his early education, Albert Mackey taught school for some time to earn money for medical school. He graduated from the medical department of the College of South Carolina in 1832. He settled in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1838 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in that institution.

In 1844 he abandoned the practice of medicine. For the rest of his life, he wrote on a variety of subjects, but specialized in the study of several languages, the Middle Ages, and Freemasonry. After being connected with several Charleston journals, he established in 1849 The Southern and Western Masonic Miscellany, a weekly magazine. He maintained it for three years, mostly by his own expense. He conducted a Quarterly 1858-1860 which he devoted to the same interests.

He acquired the Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and continental languages almost unaided, and lectured frequently on the intellectual and moral development of the Middle Ages. Subsequently, he turned his attention exclusively to the investigation of abstruse symbolism, and to cabalistic and Talmudic researches.

He served as Grand Lecturer and Grand Secretary of The Grand Lodge of South Carolina, as well as Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.

He died in Fortress Monroe, Virginia.

Bibliography

Mackey's books were often revised and expanded during and after his lifetime, and published by many different publishers.

• The Principles of Masonic Law, 1856

2nd ed., 1852

• Encyclopedia of Freemasonry (1873; reprinted in 1878. Subsequently enlarged and revised by other authors into several volumes after his death). His largest and most important contribution to masonic literature.
  • Mackey, Albert Gallatin, Edward L Hawkins, and William J Hughan. An encyclopaedia of freemasonry and its kindred sciences : comprising the whole range of arts, sciences and literature as connected with the institution 1927.
• The Symbolism of Freemasonry, 1882

• Masonry defined : a liberal masonic education ; information every mason should have, compiled from the writings of Dr. Albert G. Mackey, 33,̊ and many other eminent authorities. 3rd ed. 1925

• Mackey, Albert G. A Manual of the Lodge: Or, Monitorial Instructions in the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, Arranged in Accordance with the American System of Lectures, to Which Are Added the Ceremonies of the Order of Past Master, Relating to Installations, Dedications, Consecrations, Laying of Corner Stones, Etc. New York: Clark & Maynard, 1870. Print.

• Mackey, Albert G. The Book of the Chapter: Or, Monitorial Instructions, in the Degrees of Mark, Past and Most Excellent Master, and the Holy Royal Arch. New York: Clark & Maynard, 1870.

External links

• Works by Albert Mackey at Project Gutenberg