Ship’s Captain’s Scottish And African Background

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 11

Ship’s Captain’s Scottish And African Background

Captain Duncan Livingstone MacKinnon, master of the Blue Star ship Australia Star now at Lyttelton, was born at Blantyne, on Lake Nyasa, a town founded bv Dr. Bavid Livingstone, whom his father knew. Captain MacKinnon has travelled m many ships in many parts of the world. Captain MacKinnon s father came from Skye, but his ancestry goes back to lona, where the clan was founded, and even further, to Fingon, King of the High 1 “Mv family at one time manufacSed“Ju™’ whisky. savs from a recipe given to it by y Bonnie Prince Charlie- after the Rebellion, about the only thing left for him to give away, said Captain MacKinnon. Another branch owned the island of Antigua. was an Aberdeen woman. All the children were born in Scotland “except me, he said. The Boer war prevented my mother SIM usual return to Scotland for toe event. Captain MacKinnon was edu cated at Durban. Because of fever, no white child was allowed

to remain in any Central African territory between the ages of 4 and 12. He went to sea at 13 in the full-rigged ship Monkbarns in which he served his time.

After gaining his master’s ticket, Captain MacKinnon entered the service of the South African Government, in command of a vessel running between South Africa, the Philippines and Australia where the regular cargo was hardwood sleepers for the South African railways. Then he served in a vessel owned by the John T. Rennie Line, later the Bank Line.

During the war Captain MacKinnon served with the Royal Navy, in corvettes, frigates, and destroyers. He joined the Blue Star Line in 1951 as master of the tanker Pacific Star and, after being in other ships, was appointed to the command of the Australia Star two years ago.

Captain MacKinnon’s hobbies are cabinet making, picture framing and the making of lampshades. Several of his pictures and lampshades adorn his stateroom and cabin. His home is in Melbourne.