Charles Mackay

Born in Perth, Scotland, in 1814, Charles Mackay built a varied career as a journalist, poet, editor, and songwriter. He wrote for newspapers in London and became known for a clear, energetic style that could move easily between politics, society, and literature.

He is most widely remembered for Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, a book that explored financial bubbles, mass excitement, and the ways people can be swept along by shared beliefs. Mackay also published poetry and songs, and his writing often showed both curiosity about human behavior and a talent for making big ideas readable.

Mackay died in 1889, but his work has lasted because it still feels fresh whenever people try to understand fashion, speculation, rumor, or collective enthusiasm. For many readers, he remains an engaging guide to how crowds think—and how often they do not.