Personal data
Charles Mackinnon
Born 1753   Died 1796  
at Dalkeith
18th of Mackinnon

18th Laird of Mackinnon. Son of John Dhu Mackinnon of Mackinnon (d. 1755) and Janet Macleod, a daughter of John Macleod, 10th of Raasay. Married to Alexandra Macleod, with whom he had three children. 

In the 1780s, he wrote three Observations on the Wealth and Force of Nations, and in 1785 he published essays on the authenticity of Ossian, musical accompaniment, fortifications and the existence of the body.1

Mackinnon inherited the peninsula of Strathaird on Skye and Mishnish on Mull, but he was in financial difficulties for most of his life and sold off both, well before dying divorced, destitute and by his own hand in Dalkeith in early 1796.2

Boswell and Dr Johnson met young Mackinnon upon their arrival on Raasay on September 8, 1773. Boswell described him as "a young man of small size, delicate constitution, feebleness of voice and nearness of sight, but I was told had great knowledge, and hurt himself by too much study, particularly of infidel metaphysicians." Following a conversation with Mackinnon on September 9, Boswell told Dr Johnson, that "[Mackinnon] had studied himself into infidelity", to which Johnson replied that "he must study himself out of it again. [...] Drinking largely would sober him again."

 

  • 1Cf. To the Hebrides, footnote 343.
  • 2https://electricscotland.com/history/inverness/chapter14.htm
Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785)

Unless otherwise noted, the source for a dated quotation of Boswell's is generally the corresponding volume of the Yale Trade Editions of Boswell's journals.