McKay, Gordon

McKay, Gordon

(1821–1903) inventor; born in Pittsfield, Mass. He was a railroad engineer and a machine repairman (1837–52). He bought the patent for Lyman Blake's machine that sewed the soles of shoes to upper parts (1859); he improved the machine's capabilities, took out a new patent (1862), and formed the McKay Association, which made army shoes during the Civil War. He made a fortune on royalties from leasing his machines (1862–80) and he joined his company with Charles Goodyear's in 1880. He sold his interest in 1895 and retired to Newport, R.I. He made many benefactions, notably the McKay Institute to provide for the education of young African-Americans.