Basic Biographical Details

Name: John H Hamilton
Designation: Architect
Born: 1851
Died: 22 March 1935
Bio Notes: John H Hamilton was born in Glasgow in 1851, the son of architect James Hamilton and Catherine McKay. He was educated at Glasgow High School and Glasgow School of Art and served his articles with his father from 1867 to 1872, remaining as a draughtsman until he was taken into partnership in 1877; during his time as draughtsman he spent approximately a year travelling on the continent and in England and Ireland. On his commencement as a partner the firm name became James Hamilton & Son.

In the same year, 1877, John's first wife Agnes died at the age of about twenty-four on 6 September at 2 Hampden Terrace, Mount Florida. He later married Clara Louisa Markham, with whom he had had three children by the time of the 1891 census: Mary M (born c.1879), Arthur Donaldson (born c.1882) and Edith C A (born c.1884).

The father and son disagreed and the partnership was broken in 1884 at which point John practised on his own at 212 St Vincent Street. The rift was healed some months before James's death in 1894 when James's office archive was taken to John's office which had moved to 112 Bath Street in the early 1890s. The name James Hamilton & Son was then used from this date until 1907 when it was dropped in preparation for John's son Arthur Donaldson Hamilton being taken into partnership, the firm becoming John Hamilton & Son in 1910. Much of the work of the practice was valuation, notably for the Glasgow City and District Railway and the Caledonian Railway, and arbitration, particularly in respect of the Glasgow Corporation Sewage Scheme. John H Hamilton was admitted FRIBA on 11 June 1906, his proposers being Horatio Kelson Bromhead, John Keppie and C J MacLean; Arthur was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912.

Arthur was killed in the First World War (c.1917). John spent the First World War as architect to the Munition Works Board and thereafter practised alone, latterly at 112 Bath Street, with the assistance of Professor W J Smith. He died at 162 Crofton Avenue, Glasgow on 22 March 1935, the practice being taken over by his son John G Hamilton; it is not clear whether he was a product of Hamilton's first marriage or a late child of his second.

All three generations of Hamiltons were closely associated with Rothesay, where they had weekend houses. They built many villas there and in the surrounding area.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 816, Burnbank Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1877 *  
Item 2 of 8212, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1884c. 1890 
Item 3 of 810, Wendover Crescent, Mount Florida, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1888After 1910 
Item 4 of 8112, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1890c. 1904 
Item 5 of 8212, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1904After 1924 
Item 6 of 8Hartfield, Mansewood/Pollokshaws, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1906After 1919 
Item 7 of 8112, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1929 *  
Item 8 of 8162, Crofton Avenue, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1935 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4James Hamilton18671873Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4James Hamilton & Son1877c. 1884PartnerResumed partnership in 1893
Item 3 of 4James Hamilton & Sonc. 18931907Partner 
Item 4 of 4John Hamilton & Son19101935Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5George Simpson18851887Assistant 
Item 2 of 5John Watson18871893Apprentice 
Item 3 of 5Alexander Young19071908Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Arthur Donald Hamilton19071910Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Hugh Aitken Hutchison WalkerLate 19071910Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Horatio Kelson Bromhead11 June 1906for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3John Keppie11 June 1906for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3C J MacLean11 June 1906for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4William BaillieLate 1922for Associateship
Item 2 of 4Charles Ewan20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 4Robert Ewan (junior)20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 4(Professor) William James SmithLate 1920for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 54After 1868MoorhouseBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 2 of 54Before 1868Glenburn HydropathicRothesayButeButeScotlandAs assistant to James Hamilton - Extensive baronial additions, forming virtually a new building incorporating David and James Hamilton's hydropathic of 1843
Item 3 of 54c. 1874New Parish ChurchRothesayButeButeScotlandRebuilding in French gothic
Item 4 of 541877Corner tenement with shop, Russell Street and Mill StreetRothesayButeButeScotlandHS suggestion
Item 5 of 54After 1877Clydesdale BankRothesayButeButeScotland 
Item 6 of 541884Baths, Leslie StreetPollokshields GlasgowScotlandWon competition and secured job; completed by James Hamilton after split in partnership.
Item 7 of 541884Mount Florida UP Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 54After 1884Town Improvement SchemeRothesayButeButeScotland 
Item 9 of 541890Gorbals Grain MillsGorbals GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 541891Free Presbyterian ChurchLamlashArranButeScotland 
Item 11 of 541892D Cockburn and Sons Engineering Works  GlasgowScotlandFront building
Item 12 of 541892Photographic Studio for James Lafayette (James Stack Lauder)  ManchesterEngland 
Item 13 of 541892St Rollox UP ChurchSt Rollox GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 541893Shawlands AcademyShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 15 of 541894Drill Hall, Rumford StreetBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 541895Gorbals Grain MillsGorbals GlasgowScotlandSecond section
Item 17 of 541896Shawlands AcademyShawlands GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 18 of 541898Battlefield East ChurchBattlefield GlasgowScotlandHall
Item 19 of 541898Church hall and vestry, Moss Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 541898New Cathcart Free Church and HallCathcart GlasgowScotlandHall only; commission for main church lost to J B Wilson
Item 21 of 541898School and janitor's housePollokshaws GlasgowScotland 
Item 22 of 541898Shawlands Free Church HallShawlands Cross GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 54After 1899Salvation Army Halls and business premisesAnderston GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 54After 1899Shawlands AcademyShawlands GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 25 of 541900House for Thomas Pollock  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 541900Store and Stables, Martyr StreetTownhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 541902Premises for Allsopp & Sons  GlasgowScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 28 of 541902Tenements in Helenvale Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 541903Church, Springburn Road and Fountainhall Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 541903Copper Works, Woodville Street  GlasgowScotlandWest block of the offices
Item 31 of 541903Dental Hospital  GlasgowScotlandConversion from house into hospital?
Item 32 of 541903Hayfield Public School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 541903Salvation Army HallGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 541904Salvation Army CitadelPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 35 of 54c. 1904Swanstonhill ButeButeScotlandAdditions at various dates to hydropathic, incorporating house by J T Rochead. Perhaps submitted competition design for reconstruction?
Item 36 of 541905Hayfield School, accommodation for special instructionGorbals GlasgowScotlandBlock added to earlier main school
Item 37 of 541905Salvation Army HallAyr AyrshireScotland'Buildings of Scotland' gives Arthur Hamilton as architect but he was still an apprentice with John Archibald Campbell at this date.
Item 38 of 541906Salvation Army HallGovan GlasgowScotlandEnlargement of Junior Hall
Item 39 of 54Before 1906Mansion house for James OsborneThorntonhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 40 of 54Before 1906Mansion House for Robert Mowat EsqLongcroft StirlingshireScotland 
Item 41 of 54Before 1906Residence of J L Menzies EsqMansewood GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 42 of 54Before 1906Salvation Army Halls and business premisesCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 43 of 54Before 1906School for Special Instruction  GlasgowScotland 
Item 44 of 54Before 1906Sir John Stirling Maxwell SchoolPollokshaws GlasgowScotland 
Item 45 of 541907Mechanics Institute  GlasgowScotlandGutted and enlarged as insurance offices. Top storey added. (see 'Buildings of Scotland'). Arthur Donald Hamilton responsible, as assistant
Item 46 of 541907Salvation Army HallParkhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 47 of 541909Salvation Army Halls, BroomlandsPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 48 of 541909Salvation Army Halls, Cotton StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 49 of 541910Offices and Shop for Gorbals Grain MillsGorbals GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 541910Salvation Army HallLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 51 of 541910Salvation Army Women's Hostel  EdinburghScotland 
Item 52 of 541912Workmen's dwellings   Scotland 
Item 53 of 54c. 1920Marlborough HouseShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 54 of 54Before 1935Tenements (?) at Shawlands Junction  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal9 November 1935v43London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary, p38

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Mitchell LibraryGildard's 'Some Old Glasgow Architects' supplementary manuscript  
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from personal recollections of the late Professor W J Smith; additional research by Iain Paterson
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v15 p17 no 1104 (microfilm reel 12)

Images

© All rights reserved. © Glasgow Institute of Architects 

© All rights reserved. © Glasgow Institute of Architects