McKay (Donald) is born in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

Donald McKay becomes a carpenter, opens his first shipyard in Newburyport in 1827, and comes to Boston in 1844 [1841-Allison] at the invitation of shipping magnate Enoch Train, who writes to him, “You must come to Boston; we need you, and if you want any financial assistance in establishing a shipyard let me know the amount and you shall have it.” McKay builds a home at 80 White Street in 1844,* opens a shipyard on Border Street in 1845,* and goes on to become the foremost designer and builder of the fabled “Clipper Ships” in the U.S. He retires in 1877, and dies on his farm in Hamilton on September 20, 1880.