John MacKenzie

Life John MacKenzie was an Army surgeon. He served as a burgess, a baillie, Treasurer and Dean of Guild on the Irvine Council. His grave is in the New Calton Burying Ground, Edinburgh, but there is a commemorative stone to him and his wife Helen Miller in Irvine Old Parish Churchyard. As stated, his wife was the Nell of "A Mauchline Wedding", a daughter of John Miller of Millockshill He retired to live in Edinburgh, where he died on 11 January 1837, at an advanced age

In 1801, the 12th Earl of Eglinton, Hugh Montgomerie, persuaded Dr MacKenzie to move from Mauchline to Irvine and live free of rent for life at Seagate House. In return, he acted as the Montgomerie's family doctor, retained at an annuity of £130 in full payment for his professional services. He retired in 1827. MacKenzie also carried on General Practice in Irvine.

Association with Robert Burns Robert Burns first met Dr MacKenzie when he attended the poet's father, William Burns, at Lochlea Farm in the early spring of 1783.

It was probably through MacKenzie that Burns was introduced to Professor Dugald Stewart. The professor had an estate near Catrine on the River Ayr near Mossgiel Farm and was a close friend of MacKenzie, the Burns's family doctor. Through Dr MacKenzie, Prof Stewart invited Robert Burns to dinner at Catrine on Monday 23 October 1786.

Lochlea Farm and David McLure

The earliest account of the distressing affair regarding David McLure and the litigation against Robert Burns's father was given by Dr MacKenzie who said that he had attended William Burns at Lochlea towards the end of his life and from him received "a detail of the various causes that had gradually led to the embarrassment of his affairs; these he detailed in such earnest language, and in so simple, candid, and pathetic a manner as to excite both my astonishment and sympathy".

Irvine Burns Club In 1827, the year of his retirement, he presided at the opening dinner on 25 January of the Irvine Burns Club, with the well-known Mr. David Sillar, "a brither poet" (Epistle to Davie), as vice-chairman.

Micro-history John Smith of Swindridgemuir relates in a letter of 1829 that Dr MacKenzie was present with him at a social occasion at Robertland, hosted by Sir William Cunningham, at which Robert Burns was present. A discussion took place about the identity of Tam o'Shanter during which the poet revealed that one Douglas Grahame was the individual upon whom Tam was modelled.

Dr MacKenzie was a member of the Masonic Lodge Irvine Saint Andrew Number 149. Richard Brown was also a member.

Strawhorn records that Dr.McKenzie purchased the small estate of Lochwards near the Town Mills on the Annick Water.