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]