Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Cowie | Designation: | | Born: | 1867 | Died: | 7 June 1949 | Bio Notes: | William Cowie was born in 1867, the son of Alexander Cowie, cabinetmaker and his wife, Margaret Harold. He served his apprenticeship with Alexander and William Reid of Elgin from 1883-1888. He then moved to Edinburgh becoming an assistant in the office of Sydney Mitchell for two-and-a-half years, transferring to the Glasgow office of Clarke and Bell thereafter. During his early training he showed a particular interest in medieval ecclesiastical architecture, making measured drawings of a number of buildings including Elgin Cathedral, Holyrood Church, Glasgow Cathedral and Crossraguel Abbey. He passed the qualifying exam and was elected ARIBA on 5 June 1893, his proposers being Robert Alexander Bryden, William Forrest Salmon and Thomas Lennox Watson. From this time he was chief draughtsman to John and Henry Vincent Eaglesham for twelve years, commenced independent practice in Ayr in 1905 and taking John Frederick Torry into partnership. He was elected FRIBA in late 1933 or early 1934, his proposers being James Lochhead, George Arthur Boswell and James Archibald Morris. In addition to the specific works listed on his nomination paper, he mentions "Several Private Houses, Warehouses, Factories etc.".
Cowie died at his home, 43 Ayr Road, Prestwick on 7 June 1949, aged eighty-two. He had been married twice, first to Janet Deans Harvey and second to Christine Sommerville Aitken. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 68, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1893 * | | With John McKissack (in ARIBA nomination papers) | | 90, Great Western Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1893 * | | | | 5, Alloway Street, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | 1904 * | | | | Alloway Chambers, 239, High Street, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | 1908 * | 1914(?) | At least from these dates. Building designed by Cowie in 1904 | | 5, Wellington Square, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | 1915 * | 1940(?) | At least these years | | 5, Falkland Park Road, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private(?) | 1931 * | | | | 43, Ayr Road, Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | 1933 * | 1949 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | George Arthur Boswell | Late 1933 or early 1934 | for Fellowship (proposed 10 July 1933, elected on unknown date, signed declaration 2 January 1934) | | Robert Alexander Bryden | 5 June 1893 | for Associateship | | James Lochhead | Late 1933 or early 1934 | for Fellowship (proposed 10 July 1933, elected on unknown date, signed declaration 2 January 1934) | | James Archibald Morris | Late 1933 or early 1934 | for Fellowship (proposed 10 July 1933, elected on unknown date, signed declaration 2 January 1934) | | William Forrest Salmon | 5 June 1893 | for Associateship | | Thomas Lennox Watson | 5 June 1893 | for Associateship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Close, Robert | 1992 | Ayrshire and Arran, an Illustrated Architectural Guide | | Edinburgh: RIAS | p32 | | Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A | 1996 | A History of Scottish Architecture | | | p563 | | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scotsman | 8 June 1949 | | | p10 - death notice |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v12 p55 (microfiche 54/B4); F no3150 (box 17) |
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