1840
1842
1843
1847-48
1847
1849
1851
1854
1859
1861-65
1864
1865
1867
1868
1869
1870
1872
1874
1875
1876
1877
1881-1883
1883, Dec
1884
1886
1890
1895
1898
1899
1900
1901
John Mackay's pennyless father immigrates with children to New York City
Samuel Morse invents telegraph
Marie Louise Antoinette Hungerford born in New York City
Mexican War
John Mackay becomes carpenter's apprentice in Webb Shipyard, NYC
California Gold Rush begins
John Mackay travels to California - Clipper Ship Around the Horn
Hungerfords travel to California - via Panama
John Mackay & Jim Fair walk east to Virginia City, Nevada
- - - Mackay begins as $6 a day timberman in the silver mines
Civil War
John Mackay forms partnership with Walker, Flood and O'Brien
Mackay and Fair buy Hale&Norcross and Virginia Consolidated Mines
John Mackay marries Marie Louise (called Louise below)
Mining partnership buys out Walker, adds Jim Fair
Gould attempts to corner Gold Market, involves President U.S. Grant's son-in-law, causes personal financial loss to Grant
Trans-Continental Railroad complete - now can travel from San Francisco to London and Paris via steam train and ship in days rather than months
First son, John W. Mackay, born to John & Louise in San Francisco
Mackay & Fair uncover the "Big Bonanza" on the Comstock Lode
Second son, Clarence H. Mackay, born to John & Louise in San Francisco
- - - Mackay residence moved from Virginia City to San Francisco
Fire destroys most of Virginia City to include Mackay home
Louise and John agree that she should move family to New York for best in education and medical care
- - - Old New York society snubs nuevo-rich, Irish-Catholic Louise Mackay
- - - Louise, with John's complete approval, moves family to Paris, address becomes 9 Rue de Tilsitt
- - - Tiffany silver service ordered. Two years to make 1,250 pieces
High grade silver ore runs out on Comstock, nothing but "poor man's puddin" left by by 1880
John's TRANSITION: Silver mining to Cable/Telegraph business
John on extended holiday with family in Paris considering next venture
- - - meets J. Gordon Bennett Jr, both decide to compete with the hated Jay Gould and Western Union in Trans-Atlantic Cable business
Mackay-Bennett found Commercial Cable Company (Trans-Atlantic)
Louise moves family to London to have sons schooled in English
- - - First two Trans-Atlantic Cables laid
Mackay organizes Postal Telegraph-Commercial Cable Company (land lines)
John and Louise buy mansion at 6 Carlton House Terrace, London
Oldest son, John W. Mackay, killed in horse racing accident
- - - Clarence brought to New York to learn the cable-telegraph business
Clarence marries Katherine Duer from old New York high society family
- - - Harbor Hill, Roslyn property received as wedding present
Stanford White hired as primary architect for Harbor Hill, Guy Lowell for landscape design, Warren and Wetmore for auxilliary buildings
First daughter, Katherine or "K", born to Clarence and Katherine
Harbor Hill major buildings complete