Alexander Kincaid Mackenzie (1768–1830) was a 19th-century Scottish merchant who served as
Lord Provost of
Edinburgh from 1817 to 1819.
Life
He was born in
Edinburgh in 1768. His father held a post in the printworks of
Alexander Kincaid
Alexander Kincaid (1710–1777) was an 18th-century Scottish printer and publisher who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh 1776/77.
Life
He was born on 17 March 1710 in Falkirk the son of James Kincaid of Bantaskine House and his wife Isabell Rus ...
,
Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1776, and Kincaid was named in his honour.
It is thought his father died young as his mother "Mrs Mackenzie" is noted as a merchant trading from the
Luckenbooths, next to
St Giles Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Naomh Giles), or the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended ...
in 1773.
By 1800 he was trading as a wine merchant in his own right, from the "head of James Court" on the
Lawnmarket
The Royal Mile () is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. The term was first used descriptively in W. M. Gilbert's ''Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century'' (1901), des ...
. He later became a partner in William Hall & Co, wine merchants on the
Lawnmarket
The Royal Mile () is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. The term was first used descriptively in W. M. Gilbert's ''Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century'' (1901), des ...
in Edinburgh.
In 1806 he was living at Buchanan Court in Edinburgh's Old Town. He moved to a new house on Gayfield Square as soon as it was built (c.1808).
He joined the Town Council and in 1810 a public (but anonymous) letter was sent to "Bailie Kincaid Mackenzie" accusing the Edinburgh Town Council of various financial improprieties. In 1818, during his period as Lord Provost, a similar accusation caused him to publish the Council's finances in full.
In 1819, at his house on the west side of Gayfield Square, he hosted a visit from
Prince Leopold of Belgium, and this name was then used for the mew buildings under construction nearby, at the junction of
Leith Walk and London Road, still known as Leopold Place.
He was noted in 1819 as an ex-President of the Edinburgh
Magdalene Asylum for Fallen Women.
He became Treasurer of
George Heriot's Hospital
George Heriot's School is a Scottish independent primary and secondary day school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 21st century, it has more than 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff, and 80 non-teaching staff. ...
in 1822/23 in place of James Denholme at a salary of £500 per annum.
He died during dinner at his home, 5 Gayfield Square at the top of
Leith Walk on 2 June 1830 aged 62. He rose suddenly saying that he felt unwell and expired before he reached the diningroom door.
He is buried on the central western terrace of
New Calton Burial Ground in Edinburgh, facing south to
Arthur's Seat, next to the grave of Sir
Robert Christison.
Family
He was married to Catherine Hall (1782-1857) youngest daughter of his business partner William Hall. Their children included:
* Alexander Kincaid Mackenzie (c.1800-?), eldest son, married Jessie Rhind (1821-1845) sister of Alexander Henry Rhind, antiquary.
* Charlotte Mackenzie (1803-1876) married James Peter Mitchell
* Brigadier General James Mackenzie of the
Bengal Cavalry (1804-1859) who died at
Simla.
* William Hall Mackenzie (1808-1872)
* Catherine Mackenzie (1814-1851)
* Dr Patrick Mitchell Mackenzie (1821-1874) who spent many years in
Tobago
References
1768 births
1830 deaths
Businesspeople from Edinburgh
Lord Provosts of Edinburgh
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