Biography

Mackenzie was the father of Civil War General Ranald Mackenzie, he was also commanding officer of the U.S.S. Somers. While commanding the Somers in 1842 he executed Philip Spencer, son of John Canfield Spencer and others for mutiny. While he was officially cleared by both a Court of Inquiry and a Court Martial, his actions while Captain of the Somers clouded the rest of his naval career.