Profile Text
Birth Name: Peter Gordon MacKay
Place of Birth: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date of Birth: September 27, 1965
Ethnicity: Scottish, as well as Northern Irish, English, and Irish
Peter MacKay is a Canadian politician and lawyer. He has been Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, from May 31, 2003 to December 7, 2003, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, from March 22, 2004 to November 5, 2015, Minister of Foreign Affairs, from February 6, 2006 to August 14, 2007, Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, from February 6, 2006 to January 19, 2010, Minister of National Defence, from August 14, 2007 to July 15, 2013, and Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada, from July 15, 2013 to November 4, 2015; as well as, a Member of Parliament for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough/Central Nova (NS), from June 2, 1997 to October 19, 2015.
Peter is the son of Eirene Macha (Delap), a psychologist and peace activist, and Elmer MacKay (Elmer MacIntosh MacKay), a Conservative Party politician and lumber businessperson. His father was a Member of Parliament for Central Nova (NS), from May 31, 1971 to June 15, 1983, and later from September 4, 1984 to October 25, 1993, the riding Peter later held.
Peter is married to Iranian-born entertainer, public speaker, and human rights activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam. She was Miss World Canada 2003. The couple has three children.
Peter’s paternal grandfather was Gordon Barclay MacKay (the son of Andrew McKay and Jemima Calder Barclay). Gordon was born in Lorne, Pictou, Nova Scotia. Andrew was born in Nova Scotia, the son of James McKay and Annie McGregor, whose father, and maternal grandparents, were Scottish, with at least partial roots in Inverness-shire. Peter’s great-grandmother Jemima was born in Riverton, Pictou, the daughter of James Alexander Barclay and Elspet Rose Calder, who was from Auldearn, Nairnshire, Scotland.
Peter’s paternal grandmother was Laura Louise MacIntosh (the daughter of Elmer Charles MacIntosh and Margaret Belle MacLean). Laura was born in Fox Brook, Pictou, Nova Scotia. Elmer was born in Fox Brook, the son of John Macintosh, whose grandparents were all from Inverness, Scotland; and of Sarah Mcellan. Peter’s great-grandmother Margaret was born in Hopewell, Pictou, the daughter of Peter Ross MacLean, whose family was also Scottish; and of Sarah Ann Hingley.
Peter’s maternal grandfather was Royal Navy Cmdr. Bredin Delap (the son of The Rev. Canon Alexander Henry Delap and Evelyn Villiers Villiers). Bredin was born in Strabane, Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The Rev. Canon Alexander was born in Mount Charles, Donegal, Ireland, and was the son of The Rev. Alexander William Delap and Anna Jane Goslett. Evelyn was born in Dublin, the daughter of Mathew Villiers Sankey Morton and Lucy Eleanor Moore.
Peter’s maternal grandmother was Cethlyn Sarah Mohred Alexander (the daughter of Major Hon. Charles Alexander, and of Kate Stayner). Cethlyn was born in Ireland. Charles was the son of James Du Pre Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon, and of Lady Jane Frederica Harriot/Herriet Mary Grimston, whose own father was Sir James Walter Grimston, 1st Earl of Verulam. Kate was the daughter of Charles Stayner.
Sources: Genealogy of Peter’s mother – https://www.geni.com
Genealogies of Peter’s maternal grandparents, Royal Navy Cmdr. Bredin Delap and Cethlyn Sarah Mohred Alexander – http://thepeerage.com