The Mackay School was founded in 1857 by Peter Mackay as The Valparaíso Artizan School, with the aim to make available quality education for the children of English, American and especially Scottish craftsmen of limited resources who worked in the factories and railroads of Valparaíso during the middle of the 19th century.
But this tradition would be broken in 1871, when opening the first course for Chilean children who did not speak the English language.
The purpose of creating the school was to provide a suitable education for the children of the English, the American and especially for those of the Scottish craftsmen who worked in the railway workshops in Valparaíso during the midst of the 19th century.
Mr. Peter Mackay, a teacher in Glasgow, Scotland, accepted the post of headmaster and moved to Valparaíso, arriving on 8 October in the year 1857.
Mr. George Sutherland arrived to Valparaíso from the "Moray House Training College", Edinburgh.