Mackenzie Alexander 
(1764–12.03.1820)

Scottish merchant, an outstanding traveler of the XVIII century. 
Born in Iverness. As a young man, MacKenzie emigrated to Canada and got a place in the office of Mr. Gregory, one of the partners of the Northwest Fur Company. For nearly eight years, he served with Gregory at Fort Chipevayan on the shore of Lake Athabasca in the desert wilderness to the west of Hudson Bay. Assessing the mind and enterprising nature of Mackenzie, his knowledge of the country and the local population, the company sent him on a research expedition to the areas northwest of the fort, which were supposed to border on the Arctic Ocean. Some of them explored Hearn during his visit to the Mednorudnaya River. 
Mackenzie in the group, which included four Canadians, a German, three Indians, as well as two Canadian and two Indian women, left the fort on June 3, 1789. On four canoes they traveled 170 miles on the Slave River and on 9 June they reached Slave Lake. After waiting six days until the ice permits, on June 15, the travelers continued their canoeing along the shore of the lake and on June 29 reached the source of the river, which flowed directly to the west. With persistence and fearlessness that could not break any dangers and difficulties, the Mackenzie party moved down the river and on July 15 reached its destination of the Arctic Ocean at 69°N. At the landing site, MacKenzie placed a pillar on which he carved his name and the names of all his companions. After completing the return route, on September 12, we returned to Fort Chipevian. The open Mackenzie river now bears his name. 
October 10, 1792 Mackenzie went on a new dangerous journey, whose goal was to reach the Pacific Ocean. Before him, no European not only did not perform, but did not even try to do that. And the McKenzie attempt proved successful. Having done part of the way along rivers, part over land, overcoming even greater difficulties and dangers than in the previous hike, the Mackenzie party crossed the American continent and on July 23, 1793 reached the sea coast at 52°N. At this point, a memorial sign was erected by the Government of Canada.

After returning by the same route to Fort Chipevian, Mackenzie was engaged in fur trade, the profitability of which was largely facilitated by his travels. After a while he returned to England, where in 1801 he published a book about his travels. The value of his activities was highly appreciated. Shortly after the publication of the book, Mackenzie gained nobility. Information about the subsequent period of his life and circumstances of death not found. Buried in the Parish Church of Ross & Cromarty, Avoch, Highland, Scotland. 
Bay on the north coast of Canada in the Beaufort Sea. 
Bay on the west coast of the Melville Peninsula in northern Canada.

A river in northern Canada flowing into the Mackenzie Bay of the Beaufort Sea.