Born 1796 in Achilty, and died April 24, 1864 in Munlochy, Black Isle. He was believed to have made bagpipes from 1840 until the time of his death.
In 1819 he received piping instruction from Murdo MacLean in Inverness. As MacLean was also a bagpipe maker, it is possible that MacKenzie came away with some skills in this regard. He made the Prize Pipe for the Northern Meeting from 1846 to 1864. He was said to have great appeal among the ladies, including Queen Victoria. Of course, he was a prize winner at the Edinburgh Competitions in the 1820’s and in 1835 won the first Gold Medal ever awarded at the Edinburgh Competition. The water colour to the right is said to have been painted at Taymouth Castle in 1840. It is owned by good friend Andreas Hartman-Virnich.
Below we have Jeannie Campbell and the John Ban MacKenzie bagpipe at the College of Piping. Jeannie’s “Highland Bagpipe Makers” and “More Highland Bagpipe Makers” are without equal in preserving of the history of the Great Highland Bagpipe. They have been invaluable to me in researching makers and their instruments.
The John Ban MacKenzie bagpipe below “Presented with 5 other sets of bagpipes, a banner,and a donation of money in addition for the band to the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers by Scottish Ladies resident in London June 1861. “Cuidich in Rhi” help the King”.
