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He grew up in North Shields, Northumberland, where his mother operated a pub. He appears to have shipped under an assumed name. His real name was THOMAS TOSH, but also appears to have used the name McIntosh for some period before his enlistment. He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, fair complexion, light brown hair, slender made, pitted with smallpox, and tattooed.

Was ordered to remain on the Bounty due to the need for carpenters and armorers, even though he strongly expressed the desire to go with Bligh in the Launch. In a letter written to his mother in 1790, Bligh assures her that he had already recommended him for mercy in case they were captured and returned.

He was among those who opted to stay on Tahiti. Once there, however, contrary to the carrousing lifestyles of many, and yet lacking the desire to return to England of the others, McIntosh truly 'settled down', choosing Oparra, a region near Matavai Bay, where several of his fellow crewmembers were living as guests of a local chief. He had acquired a young Tahitian bride, and had fathered a son, born just before the arrival of the 'Pandora'. Up until that time, he had been living in an atmosphere that exceeded his wildest dreams. He was among those, therefore, who made a last hopeless attemnpt to evade capture. However his reasons, contrary to theirs, was not due to fear of conviction.

After his capture, he was placed in irons on board the 'Pandora', however, along with Coleman and Norman, he was soon released and put to work on board the ship, manning the pumps. Like them, he was tried and acquitted of the mutiny.