Jump To Section:
Clan Mackintosh have really made their mark on the world. From stunning feats of architecture, to enduring hit songs, and thrilling sporting achievements, you only need to look around to spot proof of their enviable talent.
Meet the Famous Mackintoshes
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh is perhaps one of the family’s most famous members; even if you are unfamiliar with him, you are likely to have seen one of his great designs!
Born in Glasgow in 1868, it was soon clear that the young Charles was blessed with incredible creativity. As a child, he produced striking drawings and models, earning an architectural apprenticeship with John Hutchinson at the age of just 16. While working, he also took evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art to hone his talents.
The prestigious art school was also where Mackintosh met his most famous collaborators, Margaret Macdonald, who would later become his wife, her sister Frances MacDonald, and Herbert MacNair. The group became known as ‘the Four’ and were at the centre of developing the now iconic ‘Glasgow style.’ They blended a variety of creative mediums, Celtic, and Japanese influences to build an international reputation, presenting popular exhibitions in London and Vienna.
Mackintosh also focused much of his attention on work in and around his hometown. He experienced a full circle moment in his career when he designed a new building for the Glasgow School of Art from 1896-1909. The result was a stunning feat of construction and came to be considered the first original example of Art Nouveau architecture in Britain.
There are a number of places that you can visit today to learn more about this fascinating member of the Mackintosh Clan. Why not treat yourself to a luxury afternoon tea or drinks on the beautiful roof terrace at the Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street, originally designed by Mackintosh in 1903.
Or perhaps you would be interested in an even more intimate look into the legendary artist’s life? The University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum houses the Mackintosh House, an unbelievably meticulous recreation of the home that Mackintosh shared with his wife, Margaret Macdonald.
You could also stop in at the superb Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to see an extensive collection of Mackintosh objects and designs, including stained glass, furniture, metalwork, and even reconstructed rooms!
It is undeniable that Clan Mackintosh holds a very prestigious position in the art world!
Robbie McIntosh
The family have also made a splash in the music scene.
Robbie McIntosh is a supremely talented guitar player who has worked with an astonishingly long list of musicians, including Paul McCartney, Tori Amos, the Bee Gees, Celine Dion, and Aretha Franklin!
Born in Surrey on the 25th of October 1957, the young Robbie was quickly drawn to music, starting to play guitar at just 10 years old, learning songs by ear by listening to records over and over again. His family played a big role in his early influences, with his father listening to a lot of jazz, such as Fats Waller, Django Reinhardt, and Louis Armstrong, while his older sisters introduced him to classic rock, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and Jimi Hendrix.
When he turned 13, Robbie decided to focus on developing his skills, and started to study classical guitar, taking the task very seriously. He flew through his lessons, climbing up the stages quickly, and soon passing his grade 8 exam.
This early formal training stood him in good stead when he entered the professional music world, and it wasn’t long before he was travelling the globe with his guitar! In 1977, McIntosh became friends with James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders, who asked him to join the band in 1982, hoping that his talent as an instrumentalist would help to fill out their live sound. McIntosh went on to complete many tours with them and contribute to the albums ‘Learning to Crawl’ and ‘Get Close.’ He left The Pretenders in 1987 to pursue other creative directions and found himself in very high demand!
In 1988, he even became the lead guitarist for Paul McCartney, touring with him and playing on all of his albums from 1989 to 1993.
However, McIntosh decided that it was time to fulfil his lifelong ambition of having his own group, so he left McCartney’s band and started ‘The Robbie McIntosh Band,’ recording ‘Emotional Bends’ as his debut album.
McIntosh has also used his musical talent for philanthropic endeavours. In December of 2021, he released an album called ‘Fortuneswell,’ and made it only available to download from Bandcamp. This meant that he was able to donate all profits generated from the album to the Fortuneswell Cancer Trust.
We hope you feel as inspired as we do to see a descendant of this great clan using their boundless talent to give back and make a positive impact on the world!
Jennifer McIntosh
Our final famous face for today is a Scottish Olympic sports shooter who holds some extremely impressive accolades!
Jennifer McIntosh was born in 1991 in Edinburgh to four-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Shirley McIntosh, and eminent Scottish rifle shooter, Donald McIntosh. It is clear that Jennifer inherited her parents’ talent, as she entered the 2010 Commonwealth Games at the age of just 19 and won 2 gold medals and a bronze! In 2014, she won silver in the women’s 50-metre rifle 3 position and bronze in the 50-metre rifle prone, which made her the most decorated female medal winner in Scottish Commonwealth Games history.
From then on, her career continued to advance rapidly, and her profile grew bigger and bigger.
In 2017, she won a bronze medal for individual performance at the 28th Grand Prix of Liberation, while also helping Team GB to win silver and even set a new team record. Later that year, she experienced yet more success when she was named the ‘European Champion’ after winning first place in the women’s 50-metre prone rifle event at the European shooting championship.
In 2018, the brilliant McIntosh entered the global stage when she went with the GB Team to the World Shooting Championships, where she collected yet another medal, winning bronze in the women’s 50-metre prone rifle event alongside her teammates Zoe Bruce and fellow McIntosh, Seonaid.
After returning home, Jennifer announced her retirement from competitive shooting, perhaps feeling that she had conquered the field – having won fame, admiration, and respect internationally.
However, not one to rest on her laurels, she quickly turned her hand to a completely new skill. In 2021, McIntosh revealed that she had written her debut novel, ‘Blood of Ravens,’ a thrilling fantasy adventure.
The Mackintoshes are certainly a versatile bunch!
We have been inspired by these multitalented, driven, and celebrated members of the Mackintosh Clan! If you are a member of the family, we hope you are feeling proud and inspired by your fabulous peers. Can you think of anyone we missed today that should have been mentioned? Please get in touch if so, we’d love to hear from you!
In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about the great Clan Mackintosh, make sure to check out our clan page and keep an eye out for the rest of our content this month!
Image sources:
Robbie McIntosh (Guitar player Robbie McIntosh performing with John Mayer and David Ryan Harris.) by Patty Keigan, CC BY 2.0
Stained glass window, The Hill House, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK - Mackintosh WindowUploaded by tm, CC BY 2.0
Jennifer McIntosh (British rifle shooter Jennifer McIntosh with father and coach Donald McIntosh before the Women's 3P Rifle event at London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Shooting competitions were held in a temporary range, constructed on the grounds of Woolwich Barracks in East London.) by Hemmers - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0