John Mackenzie

John Mackenzie (13 October 1787 – 28 October 1854) was a Scottish banker and Provost of Inverness. Origins Mackenzie was the ninth son of Alexander Mackenzie of Portmore (descended from the Mackenzies of Gairloch) 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 ( and also Commissioner for the Redcastle and Flowerburn estates. He took a leading part in local Liberal politics and, following the passage of the Municipal Reform (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.