Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Charles Altamont Doyle | | Designation: | | | Born: | 1832 | | Died: | 10 October 1893 | | Bio Notes: | Charles Altamont Doyle was the son of John Doyle, the celebrated political caricaturist, whose family had originated from Dublin but who had settled in London: the family were devout Roman Catholics. Like his elder brother, Dicky Doyle, who worked on 'Punch', and his brothers James and Henry who were also talented artists, he was trained in that profession. However perhaps since success eluded him, at the age of seventeen Charles was sent to Edinburgh to take up a post as assistant to the chief architect in the Edinburgh Office of Works, at that time Robert Matheson. Charles entered the Trustees' Academy on 1 December 1853, described as an RSA student from the Office of Works. He was recommended by Robert Matheson. By this date his parents and perhaps brothers and sisters must moved to Edinburgh as his father is described as 'of Edinburgh' when he entered the Trustees' Academy. In 1855 Charles he married Mary Foley with whom he had ten children (Arthur better known as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was the fourth child and first son and was born in 1859).
Charles seems to have made no particular impression on his job at the Office of Works although he is said to have designed the fountain at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and one of the windows in Glasgow Cathedral.
Charles left the Office of Works in 1877 or 1878 and by the 1880s his health had deteriorated. By 1883 he had left Edinburgh and was resident in a 'convalescent home' but was committed to Montrose Asylum in or before 1889 where he drew and wrote copiously. He died on 10 October 1893 in the Crichton Royal Institution in Dumfries.
| Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | | |
Buildings and Designs| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1858 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, fountain in forecourt | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Drawings - as asistant in H M Office of Works | | After 1859 | General Post Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Working under Robert Matheson in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Baker, Michael | 1978 | The Doyle Diary: the last great Conan Doyle mystery | | | |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this : | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Architects Index | | |
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