John Edwin MacKenzie

John Edwin MacKenzie FRSE OBE (1868-1955) was a Scottish chemist.

Life He was born in Helensburgh on 31 August 1868. He was educated at Larchfield Academy in Helensburgh, where his father was headmaster.

He studied chemistry at the University of Edinburgh to doctorate level. This included a period of research with Professor Fittig in Strasburg. In 1894 he became Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Heriot-Watt College. In 1897 he moved to Birkbeck College in London as Head of Chemistry. MacKenzie received his DSc from the University of Edinburgh in 1901. In 1905 he moved to Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute in Bombay, India. This did not suit him and he returned to Britain in 1907 and began lecturing at the University of Edinburgh.

He retired in 1938 and died in Edinburgh on 5 February 1955.

Publications The Sugars and their Simple Derivatives (1913)

Family He was married with two sons.