Glaswegian John McIntosh, a watch and clock maker by trade, was convicted at Berwick, Northumberland in May 1813 and sentenced to transportation for life. Little is known of his life in the colonies until 1826 when, after an unsuccessful term as Superintendent of Convicts at Liverpool (Sydney), McIntosh was investigated and found guilty of gross irregularities. As a result, he lost his ticket of leave, a form of parole.

Several months later he volunteered to relocate to Moreton Bay, arriving on in February 1826 on the brig Amity. The passenger list recorded the arrival of John McIntosh and his wife (unnamed). He possibly married Christiana Ferris in New South Wales in 1824.

McIntosh became Principal Overseer of Convicts at Moreton Bay and was put in charge of the Agricultural Department. In 1828, he earned another ticket of leave and was appointed the first chief constable of the Moreton Bay police force.

During his time at Moreton Bay, McIntosh was injured on at least two occasions after being attacked by First Nations peoples and was involved in a retaliatory clash with the Nunukul people on Stradbroke Island. McIntosh was also not popular with his fellow convicts, one of whom, George Byford, was charged with the attempted murder of McIntosh.

Chief Constable McIntosh remained in Brisbane until 1833 when he petitioned for replacement and leave to return to Sydney. He was replaced by Richard Bottington in late 1833, and in 1836 the first non-convict police officer, William Whyte, was appointed chief constable.

On his return to New South Wales, McIntosh joined the Goulburn Police where he was again appointed chief constable. John McIntosh died prematurely on 6 July 1842 when he was thrown from his gig passing through the Tourang Stockade on his way to Sydney.

Citation

Anastasia Dukova, ‘John McIntosh (1789 – 1842)’, Harry Gentle Resource Centre, Griffith University, 2018 (updated 2023), https://harrygentle.griffith.edu.au/life-stories/john-mcintosh/.