Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mackinnon, William Alexander
MACKINNON, WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1789–1870), legislator, born on 2 Aug. 1789, was eldest son of William Mackinnon, by his wife Miss Frye, and chief of the clan Mackinnon in the Western Islands of Scotland (Burke, Landed Gentry, 7th edit. ii. 1 193). Daniel Mackinnon (1791–1836) [q. v.] was his younger brother. He is. stated to have kept terms at St. John's College, Cambridge, and to have become a student of Lincoln's Inn, but his name cannot be found in the registers of either society. His eldest son, William Alexander Mackinnon, was a member of both. In 1830 he became M.P. for Dunwich in the conservative interest, and in 1831 was first elected for Lymington. His speech on the third reading of the Reform Bill (20 March 1832) was printed; it was able enough from a tory point of view, but it cost him his seat at the general election of 1833. He was re-elected for Lymington in 1885, and retained the seat till 1852. About that date he became a liberal. On his son, William Alexander Mackinnon, being unseated on petition, in 1853, for Rye, Mackinnon was returned for that borough without opposition, and was subsequently reelected in 1857 and 1859. In 1865 he finally retired. During the forty years that he sat in parliament Mackinnon proved himself a hard-working and useful member. He brought in bills for the amendment of the patent laws, to prevent intramural interments in populous cities and towns (1842), and to abate the smoke nuisance; he also obtained select committees on the removal of Smithfield Market, and subsequently promoted measures relative to turnpike trusts and for establishing a rural police (1855).
Mackinnon died at Belvidere, Broadstairs, one of his many seats, on 30 April 1870. He married, on 3 Aug. 1812, Emma Mary (d. 1835), only daughter of Joseph Budworth Palmer [q. v.] of Palmerstown, co. Mayo, and Rush House, Dublin, whose large fortune and estates were afterwards inherited by Mackinnon in right of his wife. He had a family of three sons and three daughters. His son Daniel Lionel entered the Coldstream guards and was killed at Inkermann.
Besides some tracts, Mackinnon published in 1828 a treatise 'On Public Opinion in Great Britain and other parts of the World,' 8vo, London (anon.), which passed through two editions. It was subsequently rewritten in two volumes, under the title of 'History of Civilisation,' 8vo, London, 1846; another edit. 1848. It is a work of merit. In 1820 he was elected fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and on 14 June 1827 fellow of the Royal Society; he was also fellow of the Geological Society.
[Scotsman, 3 May 1870, p. 2; Times, 3 May 1870; Dod's Parl. Companion; Irving's Book of Scotsmen; Cat. of Advocates' Library.]