John McIntosh came to Canada with the United Empire Loyalists, a group of people forced to flee the United States during the 1770's because they remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.

McIntosh spent time on the frontier before settling in Dundas County, Ontario, Canada, in 1790.  The town where he settled was later called McIntosh's Corners, and is now called Dundela.

While clearing some land in 1796, McIntosh discovered about 20 young apple trees.  He transplanted the trees to a place near his home, but by 1830, only one tree was still alive.  McIntosh combined his own name with the colour of the fruit, and called the tree the "McIntosh Red".

From the time the tree was first transplanted it produced an abundance of tasty apples.  In 1893, the McIntosh house caught fire and the tree, located just 15 feet from the house, was badly burned along one side.  However, the healthy side continued to produce apples until 1908.

Fortunately, as early as 1836, McIntosh's son Allan began grafting parts of the tree so that it could be grown in other places by other farmers.

Two monuments stand at Dundela commemorating McIntosh and his wonderful apple.