Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Mackenzie II (or David McKenzie II)
Designation:  
Born: 14 July 1832
Died: 25 January 1875
Bio Notes: David Mackenzie was born at Bridgend, Perth on 14 July 1832, the third son of William Macdonald Mackenzie, City Architect of Perth, and his wife Jean Davidson. He was articled to his father from 1849 until 1854 and remained with him until his death in straitened circumstances in February 1856. Andrew Heiton having succeeded to the post of City Architect, William Mackenzie’s widow then attempted to continue his private practice with her son David’s assistance, but towards the end of his executry circumstances obliged him to sell it to David Smart in 1858. Jean, her sons David and Alexander (a plumber) and her daughters Jane Ann and Jessie then moved to Liverpool where her second son William had held a post in the municipal water office since at least 1853 with her youngest son James Stalker Mackenzie (b. 1840) as his assistant. But in that same year James died and David succeeded to his place in Liverpool’s Water Office, where by his own 1872 account he spent twelve months.

Early in 1860 Mackenzie left Liverpool to become principal assistant to Dundee’s Town’s Architect William Scott, lodging with Mr and Mrs Murdoch, grocers, in Nethergate: he had perhaps also inherited whatever was left of his uncle David Mackenzie I’s practice, particularly in relation to his Chapelshade development.

In Scott’s office Mackenzie assisted with the building of Dundee’s Sheriff Court in 1861-63 and probably designed the Western Poorshouse of 1862 and the very accomplished Gothic gates and lodges of Dundee’s Eastern Necropolis in 1862-63. In 1864 Mackenzie commenced independent practice in Dundee, continuing to assist Scott with the winding down of his private practice in 1864-65: and in that same year, 1864, his brother William died in Liverpool and it fell to him to provide his mother and sisters with a home after his brother’s estate was wound up. By 1866 they were living in Garland Place, a newly built – and still incomplete – gothic terrace of main-door houses and flats which may have been to Mackenzie’s design.

Mackenzie’s ten years of practice in Dundee were initially fairly successful, partly through Scott’s influence and partly through what seem to have been good Free Church, Independent (i.e. Congregational) and Wesleyan connections. As early as 1864 he designed a large block of business chambers and flats on Ward Road in a subtly understated gothic manner based on what he had seen in Liverpool; in 1869 the Gaelic Free Church, astylar Renaissance over shops like a Liverpool office block; in 1871 he completed the Albert Institute broadly to George Gilbert Scott’s design; and in 1871 he won the competition for the municipal offices behind the Town House, probably with Scott’s support. He did not, however, succeed Scott as Town’s Architect in 1872, William Alexander, the son of Charles

Alexander proprietor of the Dundee Courier, being appointed. His practice appears to have been rather less prosperous thereafter.

Mackenzie died unmarried at 24 Garland Place on 25 January 1875, predeceasing his mother who died the following year. The Mackenzie family retained the Garland Place house, David’s aunt Matilda returning from her failed marriage to her cousin John Davidson in Argentina to housekeep there for her eldest brother George (b. 5 August 1795) in the 1880s.

Mackenzie should not be confused with his uncle, David Mackenzie II, born in 1805.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 624, Garland Place, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate 1875Place of death
Item 2 of 6Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate18321857(?)Place of birth
Item 3 of 6Liverpool, EnglandPrivate/business1857 *  
Item 4 of 6Nethergate, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate1861  
Item 5 of 619, High Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1865 *  
Item 6 of 641, Reform Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness18691875 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4William Macdonald Mackenzie18491854ApprenticeRemained as assistant.
Item 2 of 4Liverpool Water Office1857 * Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Dundee City Architect's Department18601865AssistantUnder William Scott
Item 4 of 4William Scott18601865AssistantDundee Town Architect

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1James Huttonc. 18701875Apprentice 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 14 Tenements for Crystal, Ann Street  DundeeScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 14 Tenements, Kyd Street  DundeeScotlandDate unknown
Item 3 of 14c. 1860Craigbank, 10 Dudhope Street  DundeeScotlandUncertain whether by David Mackenzie I or II
Item 4 of 14c. 1860Villa, 12 Dudhope Street  DundeeScotlandUncertain whether by David Mackenzie I or II
Item 5 of 141862Eastern Necropolis  DundeeScotlandLayout, walls, gates, railings and lodge house - as assistant to William Scott, Town's Architect
Item 6 of 141862West Poorhouse  DundeeScotlandOriginal building, as assistant to William Scott, Town's Architect
Item 7 of 141865Large block of office buildings  DundeeScotland 
Item 8 of 141866Ward Road Wesleyan Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 9 of 141868Independent Congregational Church, KilnburnNewport FifeScotland 
Item 10 of 14c. 1868Terrace of four houses  DundeeScotland 
Item 11 of 141869Gaelic Free Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 12 of 141869Russell Congregational ChapelHawkhill DundeeScotlandAccording to DMW
Item 13 of 141871Albert Institute  DundeeScotlandExtension - central unit (based on design by George Gilbert Scott) and Free Library
Item 14 of 141871Dundee Town House  DundeeScotlandWon competition to secure job for extension (City Chambers) - £50 premium

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory1868Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory London, Wyman 
Item 2 of 4British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 3 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 4 of 4Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Dundee Sheriff Court Sc45/31/27

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Dundee Advertiser31 May 1872  Submission for the post of Town's Architect
Item 2 of 2Dundee Courier29 January 1875