Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Lindsay | Designation: | | Born: | 1857 | Died: | September 1914 | Bio Notes: | James Lindsay was born in Glasgow in 1857, the son of William Lindsay, victualler and his wife Mary Duncan. He was educated at St James Parish School and Glasgow High School, and articled to Peat & Duncan, c.1872-77, remaining with them for a further three years as draughtsman during which time he studied at Glasgow School of Art and won the RIBA Silver Medal in 1876. In 1880 he set up practice on his own account at 196 St Vincent Street and immediately came into some prominence by submitting a very accomplished Beaux-Arts design in the Glasgow Municipal Buildings competition which was published in the 'British Architect' on 20 October 1882 and reflected his friendship with James Sellars. He was admitted ARIBA on 3 January 1881, his proposers being John Honeyman, William James Audsley and John Burnet.
On 25 September 1883 Lindsay married Jessie Millar Black at 48 Caledonia Street, Paisley. In that year or the following one Lindsay formed a short-lived partnership with Malcolm Stark, perhaps only for the purpose of entering the New Admiralty and War Office competition, but this was quickly dissolved if ever formalised. Like Stark, Lindsay came near in national competitions without ever actually winning. Although he was one of the most accomplished designers of his generation his clients were primarily industrial and his architecture is often a reflection of the disappointments of his career.
Lindsay and his wife had at least five children: Jessie M B (born c.1885), Mary D (born c.1886), William (born c.1887), Robert B (born c.1889) and James (born c.1892). Lindsay died of malignant disease of the kidney at 11 Moray Place on 8 September 1914. His son James Lindsay Junior then took over the practice at the early age of twenty-two, initially in collaboration with Robert Leslie Rollo, a former apprentice of the elder Lindsay's. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 196, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | 1880 * | | | | 8, Morris Place, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1883 * | | | | 167, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1884 | c. 1884 | | | 248, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1886 | 1914 | | | 47, Garnethill Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 * | 1891 | | | 11, Moray Place, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1914 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 18 September 1914 | | | Obituary p27 | | RIBA Journal | 7 November 1914 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p16 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v6 p140 (microfiche 26/C1) |
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