He was born at Nairn to farm manager James Macintosh and Barbara Watson.
He worked in a variety of rural jobs including fencing and tobacco planting before opening an ironmongery in 1846.
He continued his ironmongery and from 1861 to 1877 was a member of Sydney City Council.
[1][2] In 1872 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for East Sydney, serving until his retirement in 1880.
[3] In 1882 he was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council, where he remained until his death at Darling Point on 6 July 1911(1911-07-06) (aged 89).