Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928)

Architect, decorative artist and watercolour painter

Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s most famous buildings include Glasgow School of Art, Mrs Cranston's Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow, and the Hillhouse in Helensburgh which contains fine examples of his decorative designs and furniture. He joined the architectural practice of Honeyman and Keppie and was part of the group called 'The Immortals' at the Glasgow School of Art where he met his future wife, the artist, Margaret MacDonald. They moved to England and later to France where he concentrated on painting. He died in London on 10 December 1928. His drawings, designs and archive material are held by the Hunterian Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of the famous Scots commemorated in our Archivists' Garden. The entry on the snake's head fritillary refers to his famous watercolour illustration.

Birth in 1868

Charles Rennie Mackintosh (registered as McIntosh) was born on 7 June 1868, the son of William McIntosh and Margaret Rennie. The entry in the statutory register of births for the district of Glasgow Central gives the place of birth as 70 Parson Street.

Birth record for Charles Rennie Mackintosh (89 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, (1868/644-1/1360) 

1871 and 1881 Censuses

In 1871, Charles McIntosh, aged 2, was enumerated at 70 Parson Street with his parents, three sisters and brother. The census return for the district of Glasgow Central shows that his father was born in Ireland and his mother in Ayr.

1871 Census record for Charles Rennie MacKintosh (37 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1871/644-1/76, page 4

In 1881, Charles Rennie McIntosh, aged 12, scholar, was enumerated with his family at Firpark Terrace. The census record for the Dennistoun district of Glasgow gives his father's occupation as clerk in the Police Office.

1881 Census record for Charles Rennie Mackintosh (30 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1881/644-3/67, pages 3-4

At the time of the 1891 census he was in Italy. 

Marriage in 1900

Chas R Mackintosh, architect, 32, married Margaret Macdonald, 35, on 22 August 1900. The ceremony took place at the Episcopal Church in Dumbarton after banns according to the forms of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The entry in the statutory register of marriages for Dumbarton gives his address as 120 Mains Street, Glasgow and hers as Dunglass Castle, Bowling. The entry is signed by W Stephen DD, rector of St Augustine's, and their siblings, E E Mackintosh and Charles Macdonald, witnesses.

Marriage entry for Charles Rennie Mackintosh (45 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1900/496/88 

1901 and 1911 Censuses

In 1901, Charles R Mackintosh, 32, architect and employer, was  at 120 Maine Street with his wife Margaret, artist, who worked from home. The census return for the district of Blythswood in Glasgow shows that the household included a visitor, Harry C Marillier, metal worker, who was born in the Cape of Good Hope and a servant, Maggie Macdonald, who spoke Gaelic and English (G and E). The property had seven rooms with one or more windows.

1901 Census record for Charles Rennie Mackintosh (27 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1901/644-7/23, page 28

In 1911, Charles R Mackintosh, aged 42, architect was living at 78 Ann Street with his wife Margaret, sister-in-law Frances McNair (here given as Frances E MacNair) and two servants. The census record for the district of Hillhead in Glasgow shows he had been married for 10 years and that the couple had no children.

1911 Census record for Charles Rennie Mackintosh (9-14 KB jpegs)
National Records of Scotland, 1911/644-12/38, pages 14-17