Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Ellis Diack
Designation:  
Born: 30 August 1870
Died:  
Bio Notes: Alexander Ellis Diack was born on 30 August 1870, the son of Alexander Diack, Collector and Cashier of the Old Machar Poorhouse and nephew of the architect Alexander Ellis after whom he was named. He was educated at Robert Gordon's College and articled to Ellis and his partner Robert Gordon Wilson in August 1886, attending classes at Gray's School of Art and Robert Gordon's College from 1885-1891. In June 1891 he moved to Glasgow to widen his experience first with Clarke & Bell and then, from October 1892 to July 1894, with John Gordon.

In November 1894 Diack obtained a post in the Great North of Scotland Railway Company Architect's Department in Aberdeen, probably through the influence of his uncle who had designed the company's offices in Guild Street. Whilst there he was supervised by the engineer P M Barnett. He transferred to Aberdeen Harbour Engineers' Office in 1898, working under R Gordon Nicol. He held the same position when he was elected LRIBA on 4 December 1911, his proposers being John Ross McMillan, Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon and William Edgar Gauld.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 270, Springbank Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate18851891Address when attending Gray's School of Art
Item 2 of 2475, Great Western Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1911After 1914 

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 5Ellis & WilsonAugust 1886June 1891Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Clarke & BellJune 1891October 1892Assistant 
Item 3 of 5John GordonOctober 1892July 1894Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Great North of Scotland Railway Company Engineers' DepartmentNovember 18941898Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Aberdeen Harbour Engineer's Office1898After 1911Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3William Edgar Gauld4 December 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon4 December 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3John Ross McMillan4 December 1911for Licentiateship

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 221886(?)Dwelling house, Belgrave Terrace  AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 2 of 221886Dwelling house, Queen's Gardens  AberdeenScotlandPossibly involved, as apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 3 of 221886Dwelling house, Queen's Gardens  AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 4 of 221886(?)Two dwelling houses, Grosvenor Place  AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 5 of 22After 1886Grain Store, Regent Road  AberdeenScotlandAs apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 6 of 22After 1886VillaStonehaven KincardineshireScotlandAs apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 7 of 221887St Nicholas UP Church  AberdeenScotlandAs apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 8 of 221887(?)Two dwelling houses, Grosvenor Place  AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 9 of 221888Dwelling house, Queen's Gardens  AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 10 of 221889Two dwelling houses, Grosvenor Place  AberdeenScotlandAs apprentice to Ellis & Wilson
Item 11 of 22After 1891School for Govan School Board  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to either Clarke & Bell or John Gordon
Item 12 of 22After 1891Warehouse, Argyle Street  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to either Clarke & Bell or John Gordon
Item 13 of 221891 or 1892HomesNitshill GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Clarke & Bell
Item 14 of 221891 or 1892(?)School for Glasgow School Board  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Clarke & Bell
Item 15 of 221894Station Houses for the Great North of Scotland Railway Company  Aberdeenshire etcScotlandAs assistant to Great North of Scotland Railway Company
Item 16 of 22After 1894Great North of Scotland Railway Company WorksInverurie AberdeenshireScotlandAs assistant to Great North of Scotland Railway Company. Uncertain what part of this building he worked on.
Item 17 of 22After 1898Dwelling House for Assistant Harbour MasterAberdeen Harbour AberdeenScotlandAs assistant in Aberdeen Harbour Engineer's Office
Item 18 of 22After 1898Dwelling house for Harbour MasterAberdeen Harbour AberdeenScotlandAs assistant in Aberdeen Harbour Engineer's Office
Item 19 of 22After 1898Harbour WorkshopsAberdeen Harbour AberdeenScotlandExtension and offices - as assistant in Aberdeen Harbour Engineer's Office
Item 20 of 22After 1898Offices and adjoining timber wharf at Regent Bridge  AberdeenScotlandAs assistant in Aberdeen Harbour Engineer's Office
Item 21 of 22After 1898Sanitary conveniences round Aberdeen HarbourAberdeen Harbour AberdeenScotlandAs assistant in Aberdeen Harbour Engineer's Office
Item 22 of 22c. 1898Cruden Bay HotelCruden Bay AberdeenshireScotlandWorking for Great North of Scotland Railway Company

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v22 no1707