[3] Mackelvie established a perpetual memorial for himself in Auckland, New Zealand, by his endowment of that city with a valuable art collection selected by himself in Europe, and a rich bequest for the maintenance of a permanent gallery.
[3] To further this purpose the Municipal Corporation, in September 1891, resolved to erect a Mackelvie annexe to the handsome building, in which the Grey Literary Collection and the Auckland Free Public Library are placed.
[1] Mackelvie in early life was engaged as supercargo of a vessel during the Crimean War, and subsequently as purser on an Atlantic liner.
[3] Leaving the sea, he obtained an appointment in a large mercantile house in London, and was so engaged in 1865, when Dr. Campbell, desiring a partner to take charge of his business while he visited Europe, entered into an agreement with Mackelvie, who came to Auckland and assumed the direction of the business of Messrs. Brown, Campbell & Co. until 1870, when the partnership terminated by effluxion of time.
He returned to Europe a month or two after quitting his connection with Brown, Campbell & Co., and lived in retirement, employing a large part of his time in collecting the art treasures which he had resolved to bequeath to the city where his fortune was made.