Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Montgomerie Alexander
Designation:  
Born: 10 August 1874
Died: 1939 or 1940
Bio Notes: James Montgomerie Alexander was born in Greenock on 8 October 1874 and was articled to James B Stewart of Greenock 1893-97, attending classes at Glasgow School of Art. He excelled in his studies, receiving First Prize in Advanced Building Construction (1895, taught by George S Hill), a bronze medal in Honours Building Construction (1897, taught by Charles Gourlay) and a Queen's Prize in Architectural Senior Design (1898). In 1898 he spent a few months as assistant to James Milne Monro, but was invited to return to Stewart's office as a partner in the same year. Before the year was out, Stewart had died, but the practice continued to prosper and in 1899 Joseph John Tough was taken into partnership, the firm name becoming Stewart, Tough & Alexander.

In 1898, before joining Stewart in partnership, Alexander had spent a month sketching in Yorkshire. By 1911 he had also visited Normandy, Paris, the Loire Valley, Belgium and Holland.

He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects.

He died between 1939 and 1940. (His name disappears from Post Office Directories between those years).

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Springhill/20, Ashton Road, Gourock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate19111914 
Item 2 of 32, Hamilton Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19111940 
Item 3 of 3Seaview/40, Ashton Road, Gourock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19321937 or 1938 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4James Brown Stewart18931897Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4James Milne Monro18981898Assistant 
Item 3 of 4James B Stewart & Alexander18981899Partner 
Item 4 of 4Stewart, Tough & Alexander1899 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Bennie Wilson20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 291896Ardgowan SchoolGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAs apprentice/assistant to James B Stewart
Item 2 of 291896Reformed Presbyterian ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAs apprentice/assistant to James B Stewart
Item 3 of 291898Baptist ChurchGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 4 of 291898Church HallsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 291898SchoolPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotlandExtension
Item 6 of 29After 1899Ashton UF ChurchGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 7 of 29After 1899Broadstone CastlePort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotlandHalf-timbered gate lodge
Item 8 of 29After 1899Co-operative Society business premisesGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 29After 1899Co-operative Society business premisesGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 10 of 29After 1899Destructor Works, Stables and OfficesPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 11 of 29After 1899Gamble InstituteGourock RenfrewshireScotlandExtension and decoration
Item 12 of 29After 1899Mid KirkGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandDecoration
Item 13 of 29After 1899Mount Pleasant UF ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 14 of 29After 1899South Parish ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions, including new chancel
Item 15 of 29After 1899Town HallPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotlandDecoration
Item 16 of 29After 1899UF ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 17 of 29After 1899Villas, Upper AshtonGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 18 of 29After 1899Wellpark Parish Church HallsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 19 of 291908RoystonGourock RenfrewshireScotlandAttribution
Item 20 of 291909Church Institute Greenock    
Item 21 of 291909RestaurantGourock  Scotland 
Item 22 of 29c. 1914Gourock Municipal BuildingsGourock RenfrewshireScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 23 of 291931Masonic TempleGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 24 of 291931Young Women's Christian Association hall and clubroomsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 25 of 291932Garage and premsies for funeral undertakersGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 26 of 291934Garage for P B Wright & Sons, Motor HirersGreenock Renfrewshire  
Item 27 of 291935Furniture WarehouseGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 28 of 291936Bogston Parish Church, LadyburnGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 29 of 291937West Blackhall Street bakeryGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914  Biographical information and additional references
Item 2 of 5Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 5RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 5Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 5 of 5Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBARIBA Biographical Files  
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Additional information from Iain Paterson
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v15 no1084