Sir Edward Montague Compton Mackenzie, 1883-1972, was born on 17 January 1883 at West Hartlepool, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at St Paul's School, London, England and at Magdalen College, Oxford, England where he received a second class honours degree in history in 1904 . He became a writer and published his first book of Poems in 1907. His first novel followed in 1911 and his most successful book Sinister Street was published in 1913 . He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1914. During the 1914-1918 World War he first served with the Royal Naval Division on the Dardanelles, Turkey, expedition and rose to be director of the Aegean Intelligence Service at Syros, Greece. These experiences led to the three books Gallipoli Memories (1929), Athenian Memories (1931) and Greek Memories (1932). A period when he lived on the island of Capri, Italy, inspired the books Vestal Fire (1927) and Extraordinary Women (1928).
Edward Compton Mackenzie was the literary critic of the Daily Mail from 1931 to 1935 and rector of the University of Glasgow from 1931 to 1934. He also founded the magazine The Gramophone which he edited from 1923 to 1961. In 1938, Compton Mackenzie published a biography of Edward VIII, 1894-1972, Duke of Windsor, entitled The Windsor Tapestry . Edward was born on 23 June 1894, the son of King George V and Queen Mary. He was created Prince of Wales on his 16th birthday. During the 1939-1945 World War Mackenzie stayed on the Hebridean island of Barra, Western Isles, Scotland, where he wrote Whisky Galore (1947). He also wrote many children's books and an autobiography in 10 volumes. Compton Mackenzie was awarded an OBE in 1919 and was knighted in 1952 . He died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 30 November 1972 . Source: Dictionary of national Biography, and Wintersgill, Donald, Rectors of Glasgow University 1820-2000, , Glasgow, 2001
From the guide to the Papers of Sir Edward Montague Compton Mackenzie, 1883-1972, writer and rector of the University of Glasgow, 1937-1961, (Glasgow University Archives Service)
