John Mackenzie (banker)


John Mackenzie was a Scottish banker and Provost of Inverness.

Origins

Mackenzie was the ninth son of Alexander Mackenzie of Portmore 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 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.

Character

A flattering retrospective portrait of Mackenzie was painted by Isabel Anderson:

Family

Mackenzie married Mary Charlotte, the only child of Robert Pierson, a merchant of Riga. They had at least seven children. Their grandchildren included Major-General Sir Colin John Mackenzie.