John Mackenzie (banker)
Encyclopedia
John Mackenzie was a Scottish banker and Provost of Inverness.
) and Anne, the eldest daughter of Colin Mackenzie of Kilcoy.
and Flowerburn estates.
He took a leading part in local Liberal politics and, following the passage of the Municipal Reform (Scotland) Act in 1833, was unanimously elected the first post-reform Provost of Inverness. The Inverness Courier for 25 September 1833 records the presentation to him of a piece of plate, inscribed “by admirers of his public conduct and private character, residing in Inverness and neighbourhood; in acknowledgment of his strenuous and valuable services in support of popular rights during Earl Grey’s
administration, a period of the highest importance to the political independence and welfare of the nation, September 1833”.
Mackenzie was widely urged to come forward as a candidate for Parliament and was later offered the Governorship of Ceylon and also of Mauritius, but declined to accept any of these invitations.
Mackenzie’s overtly political activities did not find favour with his employers and he was instructed to desist or to retire from service. On 19 November 1834, the Inverness Courier recorded that “much regret was expressed that Mr John Mackenzie, banker, found it necessary to resign the office of Provost of Inverness on account of ill-health”.
Mackenzie died on 28 October 1854.
. They had at least seven children. Their grandchildren included (by their third son, Colin) Major-General Sir Colin John Mackenzie
.
Origins
Mackenzie was the ninth son of Alexander Mackenzie of Portmore (descended from the Mackenzies of GairlochGairloch
Gairloch is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch on the northwest coast of Scotland. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a community centre, a leisure centre with sports facilities, a local...
) and Anne, the eldest daughter of Colin Mackenzie of Kilcoy.
Career
Mackenzie was for many years a successful agent in Inverness for the Bank of Scotland ( and also Commissioner for the RedcastleRedcastle
Redcastle , historically known as Edirdovar and Ederdour, is a mediaeval castle in Killearnan on the Black Isle, northern Scotland. It is so named from the colour of the stone of which it is built...
and Flowerburn estates.
He took a leading part in local Liberal politics and, following the passage of the Municipal Reform (Scotland) Act in 1833, was unanimously elected the first post-reform Provost of Inverness. The Inverness Courier for 25 September 1833 records the presentation to him of a piece of plate, inscribed “by admirers of his public conduct and private character, residing in Inverness and neighbourhood; in acknowledgment of his strenuous and valuable services in support of popular rights during Earl Grey’s
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
administration, a period of the highest importance to the political independence and welfare of the nation, September 1833”.
Mackenzie was widely urged to come forward as a candidate for Parliament and was later offered the Governorship of Ceylon and also of Mauritius, but declined to accept any of these invitations.
Mackenzie’s overtly political activities did not find favour with his employers and he was instructed to desist or to retire from service. On 19 November 1834, the Inverness Courier recorded that “much regret was expressed that Mr John Mackenzie, banker, found it necessary to resign the office of Provost of Inverness on account of ill-health”.
Mackenzie died on 28 October 1854.
Character
A flattering retrospective portrait of Mackenzie was painted by Isabel Anderson:- "In those days, when everyone was more or less hospitable, and the set of fine-looking courtly bankers, for whom Inverness was at that time noted, vied with each other in keeping open house, there was no one who dispensed hospitality with a more lavish hand, no one who was more generous to all who needed help, than Mr Mackenzie, Ness House, agent for the Bank of Scotland. Not only did his birth and connections, his singularly aristocratic appearance and exquisite courtesy secure for him the undoubted precedence, but he was about the last to maintain in Inverness the manners and customs of a former generation, and was even in those days considered the beau ideal of a Highland gentleman of the olden time."
Family
Mackenzie married (on 4 December 1817) Mary Charlotte, the only child of Robert Pierson, a merchant of RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. They had at least seven children. Their grandchildren included (by their third son, Colin) Major-General Sir Colin John Mackenzie
Colin John Mackenzie
Major-General Sir Colin John Mackenzie, KCB was a British soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army, from 1910 until 1913.-Background:...
.