Roderick Mackenzie, Lord Prestonhall Explained

Roderick Mackenzie, Lord Prestonhall (c.1635 - 1712) was a Scottish judge and Senator of the College of Justice

Life

He was the son of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat (1608-1654) and his wife Margaret Erskine. His older brother was George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie.[1]

In 1700 he built Preston Hall south of Edinburgh near Dalkeith.[2]

On 12 January he was created a Senator of the College of Justice taking the title Lord Prestonhall, in place of the late James Scougal, Lord Whitehill.[3]

His resigned his position as Senator in June 1710 and the position was filled by his nephew James Mackenzie, Lord Royston.[4]

He died on 4 December 1712.

Preston Hall was bought in 1738 by Henrietta widow of the Duke of Gordon who commissioned William Adam to remodel it, and it was again remodelled 1792-1800 when it was redesigned as a highly formal mansion with side wings, as it now exists.[5]

Family

He married twice: firstly in 1674 to Mary Burnet; secondly to Margaret Halyburton of Pitcur, granddaughter of Sir James Halyburton.[6]

Notes and References

  1. The Earls of Cromartie vol.1 by William Fraser
  2. Web site: Preston Hall. 1961-08-31 . Historic Environment Scotland .
  3. An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: Brunton, Haig and Lockhart
  4. An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: Brunton, Haig and Lockhart
  5. Book: McWilliam, Colin . Lothian . Penguin . Harmondsworth . 1978 . 0-14-071066-3 . 4348067 .
  6. Web site: Roderick MacKenzie, of Prestonhall (b. - 1712) . geni_family_tree . 2023-03-30 .