John Macky

Between 1688 and 1710 he ran a successful intelligence gathering network across the English Channel, principally concerned with Jacobite and French threats to England.

[2] In August 1702, the General Post Office terminated the cross-channel postal service with the beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession and Macky was awarded a pension at half pay.

[1] Macky's network of spies was crucial to the discovery in February and March 1708 of the Jacobite plans to invade Scotland and that year he also discovered the preparations for an armament at Dunkirk.

The loss of his Post Office contract in 1713 exposed Macky's extensive indebtedness, and he fled in that year to Flanders to escape his creditors.

[1] He subsequently came under the suspicion of the authorities owing to his large debts and close connection with many Jacobites and was imprisoned, but was released in 1714 following the accession of George I.

[6] The operation proved too costly and faced with mounting debts, Macky turned to travel writing, producing his first volume in 1714.