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.

Character A flattering retrospective portrait of Mackenzie was painted by Isabel Anderson: "In those days, when everyone was more or less hospitable, and the set of fine-looking courtly bankers, for whom Inverness was at that time noted, vied with each other in keeping open house, there was no one who dispensed hospitality with a more lavish hand, no one who was more generous to all who needed help, than Mr Mackenzie, Ness House, agent for the Bank of Scotland. Not only did his birth and connections, his singularly aristocratic appearance and exquisite courtesy secure for him the undoubted precedence, but he was about the last to maintain in Inverness the manners and customs of a former generation, and was even in those days considered the beau ideal of a Highland gentleman of the olden time."

Family Mackenzie married (on 4 December 1817) Mary Charlotte, the only child of Robert Pierson, a merchant of Riga. They had at least seven children. Their grandchildren included (by their third son, Colin) Major-General Sir Colin Mackenzie.