The Hon. Donald Mackenzie, Lord Mackenzie FRSE (22 June 1818 – 19 May 1875) was a Scottish lawyer who served as a Senator of the College of Justice in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

Early life

Donald Mackenzie was born 22 June 1818, the only son of Margaret Robina Jamieson, daughter of the Rev.

John Jamieson John Jamieson (3 March 1759 – 12 July 1838) was a Scottish minister of religion, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary. His most important work is the ''Dictionary of the Scottish Language''. Life He was born in Glasgow in March 1759 the ...

, DD, author of the

Scottish National Dictionary The ''Scottish National Dictionary'' (''SND'') was published by the Scottish National Dictionary Association (SNDA) from 1931 to 1976 and documents the Modern (Lowland) Scots language. The original editor, William Grant, was the driving force b ...

, and Capt. Donald Mackenzie, of the 21st Fusiliers. In early life the family lived at 39 George Square in south Edinburgh. He studied at the

Loretto School Loretto School, founded in 1827, is an independent boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 0 to 18. The campus occupies in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. History The school was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. ...

and the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. He originally studied medicine, graduating with an MD at the

in 1838, and became a licentiate of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

and also a

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) is a professional qualification to practise as a senior surgeon in Ireland or the United Kingdom. It is bestowed on an intercollegiate basis by the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons (the Royal ...

. Mackenzie never practised as a physician, instead, yielding to his mother's wishes, he took up the study of the law.

Legal career and later life

Mackenzie was admitted as an advocate to the Scottish bar in 1842. He was Advocate Depute from 1854 to 1858, and again from 1859 to 1861. He served as the

Sheriff of Fife The Sheriff of Fife was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Fife, Scotland and bringing criminals to justice. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite ...

shire from 1861 to 1870. On 16 March 1870, he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Session in Scotland, under the name Lord Mackenzie. Mackenzie's Edinburgh Georgian townhouse was at 24 Heriot Row, in the New Town. In 1870 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being his legal colleague, Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves. Mackenzie died at Maulside, Dulwich Wood Park, Norwood, outside London, England, on 19 May 1875. Due to ill health he had taken a

leave of absence The labour law concept of leave, specifically paid leave or, in some countries' long-form, a leave of absence, is an authorised prolonged absence from work, for any reason authorised by the workplace. When people "take leave" in this way, they are ...

from his duties at the

College of Justice The College of Justice includes the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies. The constituent bodies of the national supreme courts are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, the Office of the Accountant of Court, an ...

a short time before his death. He is buried in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland. The grave lies on the western wall in the section known as "Lord's Row".

Family

On 6 September 1843, Mackenzie married Janet Alice Mitchell (1821-1914), the daughter of Andrew Mitchell, Esq. of Maulside, Ayrshire. The couple had 12 children. * Donald Mackenzie (1844-1924), married Laura Augusta Mackenzie Douglas, the granddaughter of

Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet General Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet (12 March 1769 – 6 October 1843) was a Scottish soldier who served as an officer in the British Army. From 1824 to 1826, Gen. Campbell commanded the British forces in the First Anglo-Burmese War ...

* Lilias Oswald Mackenzie, married

John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross John Blair Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross (11 July 1837 – 22 January 1905) was a Scottish lawyer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1899. Early life Balfour was born in the manse at Clackmannan, the son of Rev. P ...

, in 1869 Died in 1872 * Andrew Mitchell Mackenzie (1847-1885), Stockbroker, married Helen Maria Mackenzie Douglas, a second granddaughter of Sir Archibald Campbell * Charlotte Margaret Robina Mackenzie (1850-1903) * Alice Elizabeth Mackenzie (b. 1852), married Charles Walker * Annie Adele Mackenzie (1854-1925), married the Hon.

Alexander Low, Lord Low Alexander Low, Lord Low (1845–1910) was a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as a Senator of the College of Justice. Life He was born on 23 October 1845 the son of Jessy Turnbull of Abbey St. Bathans and her husband, James Low of The Laws ...

, a Senator of the College of Justice, Edinburgh, Scotland * Robert Jameson Mackenzie (1857-1912), Rector of

Edinburgh Academy The Edinburgh Academy is an independent day school in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was opened in 1824. The original building, on Henderson Row in the city's New Town, is now part of the Senior School. The Junior School is located on Arboretum Ro ...

1888 -1901 and author of the book, "Almond of Loretto" * Alastair Oswald Morison Mackenzie, K.C. (1858-1949), Sheriff of Inverness, Elgin and Nairn, then later

Renfrewshire Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Re ...

, and later still

Sheriff of Lanark The Sheriff of Lanark or Sheriff of Lanarkshire was historically the royal official responsible for enforcing law and order and bringing criminals to justice in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis ...

shire * Farquhar John Conrad Mackenzie (1861-1916), Farmer in USA * The Right Reverend Dr. Kenneth Mackenzie (1863-1945), Bishop of Argyll and The Isles * Mary Oswald Mackenzie (1866-1954), married

Charles Frewen Jenkin Charles Frewen Jenkin, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (24 September 186523 August 1940) was a British engineer and academic. He held the first Chair (academic), chair of engineering at the Un ...

, an engineer and later Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford

References

External links

Portrait of Donald Mackenzie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackenzie, Donald 1818 births 1875 deaths People educated at Loretto School, Musselburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Members of the Faculty of Advocates Senators of the College of Justice Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons Burials at the Dean Cemetery Scottish sheriffs 19th-century Scottish judges