Kenneth Muir Mackenzie

In the north cloister of Westminster Abbey is the grave of politician Kenneth, Baron Muir Mackenzie. He was born on 29th June 1845 at Delvine in Perthshire, a son of Sir John William Pitt Muir Mackenzie and his wife Sophia (Johnstone). Educated at Charterhouse and Oxford he became a lawyer. In 1874 he married Amy Graham, They had three daughters but his son pre-deceased him. He was Clerk of the Crown in Chancery in 1880 and he helped to develop the Lord Chancellor's Office. He was created a Knight of the Order of the Bath, a Privy Councillor and was made a peer in 1915. Until his death on 22nd May 1930 he served in the Labour administration. The inscription reads:

Kenneth Augustus Baron Muir Mackenzie of Delvine G.C.B. High Bailiff of Westminster and Searcher of the Sanctuary for XVIII years, MDCCCXLV-MCMXXX.

He was High Bailiff from 1912-1930. This officer originally had jurisdiction over the precincts of the Abbey and parish of St Margaret's and executed legal duties such as serving writs and warrants and until 1918 was Returning Officer at all parliamentary elections for the City of Westminster. The Dean of Westminster appoints a High Bailiff and today the duties mainly consist of attending ceremonial occasions at the Abbey.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography