William McKay

Lt.-Colonel William McKay (1772 – 18 August 1832) is remembered for leading the Canadian Forces to victory at the Siege of Prairie du Chien during the War of 1812.

During the American War of Independence, Donald McKay served with the King's Royal Regiment of New York and was afterwards one of the original United Empire Loyalists who settled at Glengarry County, Upper Canada.

He travelled widely in the regions north and west of the Great Lakes and traded along the Menominee River and afterwards at Portage la Prairie.

His first major contribution was to make a journey of 500 miles (800 km) by canoe from Montreal to the British military post on St. Joseph Island on Lake Huron via York, the provincial capital, in only eight days.

When the war ended, he (and McDouall) opposed returning Mackinac and Prairie du Chien to the Americans, as it would place many Indians at their mercy, but was overruled.