James C. Mackintosh

James Crosskill Mackintosh (1 February 18398 May 1924) was a Canadian banker, stockbroker, and political figure in Nova Scotia who served as Mayor of Halifax.

Early life and education James Crosskill Mackintosh was born on 1 February 1839 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

He joined the North British Society in 1859 and became its secretary in 1860. J. C. Mackintosh, a Presbyterian, was among the founders of Fort Massey Presbyterian Church in 1871 where he served multiple roles.

Mackintosh joined the Halifax Stock Exchange, founded on 1 January 1874, as a broker and later became its president. During the mid-1870s, he became an agent for the Prince Edward Island Steam Navigation Company.

Mackintosh held roles as junior and senior vice president in the North British Society before his election as president in 1877. He eventually expanded the brokerage and banking firm to include branches in Montreal, St. John, N.B., Fredericton, and New Glasgow.

The banker and general financial agent served on the executive committee for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce in 1878.

Political career City Alderman J. C. Mackintosh became involved in politics and was elected to Halifax City Council in 1878. He served as an alderman and justice of the peace for the City of Halifax for five years under Stephen Tobin and George Fraser. During the 1880s, he worked on the Board of Health and Board of Commissioners of City Works. As an alderman, he was a driving force behind assessment reforms and successfully introduced a better tax collection and accounting system in City Council.

Mayor of Halifax In 1884, he was elected as the Mayor of Halifax, replacing George Fraser in office. He held the role until 1887 and was succeeded by Patrick O'Mullin after his term ended. As mayor, he initiated public works projects, including the foundation of the Halifax Dry Dock and the renovation of Grand Parade. He also played a key role in starting a regular ferry service between Dartmouth and Halifax. He later served as the president of the Halifax chapter.

In 1889, he was serving as vice-president of Starr Manufacturing Co. which was presided over by William James Stairs.

He led the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Nova Scotia as president during 1890–91. A longtime supporter of the Halifax School for the Blind, Mackintosh was named a benefactor in 1892 after a decade on the board of directors. In 1898, he was serving as the school's vice president and in multiple standing committees.

On 6 February 1893, Mackintosh was elected president of the Nova Scotia Bible Society, the Nova Scotia branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

He joined T. E. Kenny, Thomas Fysche, and J. F. Stairs in founding the Eastern Trust Company in 1893. On 7 April of that year, he was appointed as a provisional director.

As a member of the Halifax Board of Trade (now Halifax Chamber of Commerce), he served on the Board of Arbitrators by the mid-1890s.

His son-in-law John E. Wood became a partner in J. C. Mackintosh & Co. in 1904 after marrying his daughter Gertrude Mary Mackintosh. He held the roles of vice president and director at the Eastern Canada Savings & Loan Co., Ltd, under the presidency of S.M. Brookfield. By 1905, Mackintosh held a seat on the board of governors of Dalhousie College until 1919.

In 1914, Mackintosh held several prominent business positions which included president of Starr Manufacturing Co. and a director of both Eastern Trust Co. and St. Croix Lumber Co. His wife was heavily involved with the Local Council of Women of Halifax as its president. He participated in various societies as well as civic and educational organizations. He became a member of the Halifax Club. He later joined the Canadian Club of Halifax in 1907.

The investment banker was a shareholder of the Bank of British North America by the late 1890s.

Death James Crosskill Mackintosh died on 8 May 1924 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The mayor's address and general review of affairs of the city government (1886)