Robert Mackenzie (trader)
Encyclopedia
Robert Mackenzie was a trader and co-founder of the Mackinnon Mackenzie Company, now known as Inchcape plc
.
in Argyll
, Robert Mackenzie went out to Calcutta in India
where, in 1836, he set up an oil goods import and export business and also became involved in the coasting trade around the Bay of Bengal
.
In 1847, together with William Mackinnon, he co-founded the Mackinnon Mackenzie Company which went on to become a major trading house, shipping goods from India
to the United Kingdom
. Mackenzie chose Ghazipur
as the base for his own activities.
In 1853 Mackenzie set out for Australia
to seek out trading opportunities for the McKinnon Mackenzie Company. He died on board the SS Aurora
which was shipwrecked off Queensland
on 15 May 1853.
Inchcape plc
Inchcape plc is a multinational automotive retail and services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has operations in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and South America....
.
Career
Born in CampbeltownCampbeltown
Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran , it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell was granted the site in 1667...
in Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, Robert Mackenzie went out to Calcutta in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where, in 1836, he set up an oil goods import and export business and also became involved in the coasting trade around the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
.
In 1847, together with William Mackinnon, he co-founded the Mackinnon Mackenzie Company which went on to become a major trading house, shipping goods from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Mackenzie chose Ghazipur
Ghazipur
Ghazipur , or Ghazipur City, previously spelt Ghazeepore, is a city/town and a municipal corporation and headquarter of Ghazipur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Ghazipur Division and Sub-division...
as the base for his own activities.
In 1853 Mackenzie set out for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to seek out trading opportunities for the McKinnon Mackenzie Company. He died on board the SS Aurora
USS Scorpion (1847)
The third USS Scorpion was a steamer in commission in the United States Navy from 1847 to 1848.Scorpion was built in 1846 as the commercial steamship SS Aurora by Bishop and Simonson at New York City for Sidney Mason and William D. Thompson. The U.S...
which was shipwrecked off Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
on 15 May 1853.