Alexander George Robertson Mackenzie (12 March 1879 – 20 March 1963) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

Early life

Born in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

on 12 March 1879, AGR was the second son states "eldest son" while own article states "second son" of Marshall Mackenzie, architect and his wife, Phoebe Ann Robertson Cooper. He was educated at Gray's School of Art and Aberdeen University and articled to his father in August 1894.

Professional life

At the end of his apprenticeship in 1898, he became his father's chief assistant. From 1900, to gain London experience, he worked in the office of Colonel Edis (1839–1927), and studied at the Architectural Association and the Central School of Arts and Crafts. He gained further experience working with

René Sergent René Sergent (; July 4, 1865 - August 22, 1927) was a noted French architect. Biography Born in Clichy, Sergent was trained at the École spéciale d'architecture, where he concentrated on French architecture of the 18th century but also studie ...

in Paris and in the London office of Niven & Wigglesworth, before returning to his father's office as a partner in 1902. AGR was put in charge of a new London office, but continued to spend some time in Aberdeen. The London practice was an immediate success, with commissions for the

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Waldorf can have the following meanings: People * William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848–1919), financier and statesman * Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (1879–1952), businessman and politician * Pappy Waldorf (1902–1981), 1966 ...

in Aldwych and a more prestigious one for Canada House (which was cancelled during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

). Australia House, also in Aldwych, followed a few years later and was built. In the 1920s, AGR spent much of his time in the Aberdeen office, where his father was assisted by John Gibb Marr (1890–1983), who was taken into partnership in 1927. The Aberdeen practice remained prosperous, with much conservation work – the main client was the National Trust for Scotland. However, the London practice did not recover its pre-war success. After being restructured several times, 'A Marshall Mackenzie & Son' closed the London office. Mackenzie and his wife moved to Bourtie House, a fine

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

house, near Inverurie. In Aberdeen he designed the

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...

style Northern Hotel which was built in 1937–8, retrieved Provost Ross' House from ruin (now part of the Maritime Museum). and the Capitol Cinema. Mackenzie remained in partnership with John Gibb Marr until AGR retired completely in 1960.

Personal life

During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, AGR enlisted in the

London Scottish Regiment The London Scottish was a reserve infantry regiment then a company of the British Army. In its final incarnation it was A (The London Scottish) Company, the London Regiment until, on 1 April 2022, soldiers in the company transferred to foot ...

and was severely wounded, losing most of a leg. Invalided out, he returned to work with his father. He died on 20 March 1963, after major surgery and is buried at Bourtie churchyard,

Honours

AGR was admitted ARIBA in 1901 and elevated to FRIBA in 1913.

Footnotes

1879 births Military personnel from Aberdeen British Army personnel of World War I London Scottish soldiers Scottish amputees 1963 deaths 20th-century Scottish architects Architects from Aberdeen Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Associates of the Royal Institute of British Architects Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects {{UK-architect-stub