[2] Mackenzie subsequently held a number of civil service appointments in the Bengal Presidency and British India.

His short term in office was dominated by natural disasters, the province suffered plague, famine, earthquake and cyclone in those years.

[2] In local administration, he initiated a survey and settlement in Orissa, took a keen interest in education and in the improvement of the Calcutta docks.

He was back in Bengal by the end of the year, but was forced to retire permanently in March 1898 due to poor health.

He returned to the United Kingdom and led a quite life, his only significant public office was as Chairman of the India Development Company.