Donald McKay was a fur trader who spent much of his life in the Timiskaming district of what is today northern Ontario and Quebec. Born to Scottish immigrants near or around Montreal he had several siblings, including Angus and Neil who also worked in the fur trade. When the Hudson's Bay Company post Frederick House was established in 1785, McKay who was then a clerk, was master of Canadian house, Langue de Terre, on Lake Mistinikon. By 1794 he had a post on Matawagamingue, today Mattagami, that served as the base for the area and he established the Flying Post on Groundhog Lake, which was in operation in 1800. From 1804 to 1806 McKay was in charge of the depot at Fort Timiskaming before relocating to Abitibi for a short time. He returned to Fort Timiskaming in 1806 and remained there as master until his death on June 9, 1820. Two of McKay's sons, Donald John and John, worked in the fur trade as well, serving as clerks in the Timiskaming district for the North West and Hudson's Bay companies.