Sir Robert Mackenzie, 10th Baronet

Sir Robert Ramsay Mackenzie, 10th Baronet (21 July 1811 – 19 September 1873) was a pastoralist and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was Premier of Queensland, Australia from August 1867 to November 1868.

The Hon Sir Robert Mackenzie Bt
Mackenzie in 1866
3rd Premier of Queensland
In office 15 August 1867 – 25 November 1868
Preceded by	Robert Herbert
Succeeded by	Charles Lilley
Constituency	Burnett
1st Treasurer of Queensland
In office 15 December 1859 – 4 August 1862
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Thomas Moffatt
Constituency	Burnett
In office 15 August 1867 – 25 November 1868
Preceded by	Thomas Blacket Stephens
Succeeded by	Thomas Henry FitzGerald
Constituency	Burnett
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Burnett
In office 4 May 1860 – 6 April 1869 Serving with Charles Haly, John Edwards, Ratcliffe Pring
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Charles Haly
Personal details
Born	(1811-07-21)21 July 1811 Ross-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Died	19 September 1873(1873-09-19) (aged 62) London, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Spouse	Louisa Alexandrina Jones (m.1846 d.1906)
Relations	Sir George Mackenzie, 7th Baronet (father)
Occupation	Magistrate, Grazier

Early life

Mackenzie was born in Coul, Ross-shire, Scotland, fourth son of Sir George Steuart Mackenzie, and wife Mary, fifth daughter of Donald Macleod of Geanies, Ross-shire.

New South Wales

In April 1832 Mackenzie arrived on the Wave in Sydney, New South Wales, with £750 joining his brother James. He purchased sheep for £500 and grazed them at Riddlesdale (near Dungog, New South Wales). After land speculation with his brother James, Robert Mackenzie bought a station, got into debt and borrowed money from his Scottish relatives. His financial situation worsened and he was declared bankrupt in 1844. In 1846 he was discharged from bankruptcy and was appointed a magistrate in 1847, living in Clifton, New England.

Political career

Queensland was declared a separate colony in 1859, Mackenzie became involved with politics and became Colonial Treasurer on 15 December 1859 in the ministry of Robert Herbert. Mackenzie represented Burnett in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland 1860–1869. Mackenzie formed a government on the resignation of Arthur Macalister, taking the roles of both Premier and Colonial Treasurer. He resigned on 25 November 1868.

Personal life

Robert Mackenzie married Louise Alexandrina Jones, daughter of Richard Jones, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Sydney, in 1846. One of their daughters, Mary Louisa, married Alexander Archer, a brother of Archibald Archer. Both Mary and Alexander died in the 1890 sinking of the RMS Quetta.

Robert Mackenzie succeeded his brother William on his death on 21 December 1868 to the baronetcy and returned to live on the family estate in Scotland in 1871. Sir Robert died at 6 Atherstone Terrace, Queen’s Gate Gardens, London on 19 September 1873.

See also

• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1860–1863; 1863–1867; 1867–1868; 1868–1870

References

• R. B. Joyce, 'Mackenzie, Sir Robert Ramsay (1811 - 1873)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, MUP, 1974, pp 171–172.
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Mackenzie, Robert". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.

Additional resources listed by the Australian Dictionary of Biography

• C. A. Bernays, Queensland Politics During Sixty Years (Brisb, 1919)
• J. F. Campbell, ‘Discovery and early pastoral settlement of New England’, JRAHS, 8 (1922)
• Brisbane Courier, 28 July 1862
• The Times (London), 24 September 1873, p 5
• P. D. Wilson, The Political Career of Hon. A. Macalister (B.A. Hons thesis, University of Queensland, 1969)
• Bankruptcy papers, 1250 (State Records New South Wales)
• Land and Colonial Secretary's files (Queensland State Archives).