Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Cousin
Designation:  
Born:  
Died: 17 September 1890(?)
Bio Notes: George Cousin was David Cousin's brother and commenced practice as an ordained surveyor from his house at 3 Johnson's Place about 1840 or 1841. In about 1844 he took an office at 6 Royal Exchange, close to his brother at number 12; and when David moved office to George Street in the following year, Cousin took over his premises at number 12. George's practice was extensive and not exclusively surveying as at least one architectural drawing by him is known. By at least 1864 he had been joined by William Ormiston: in his RIBA Nomination paper John Hinton Gall refers to Ormiston as George's partner although the practice title of Cousin & Ormiston was not adopted until about 1877. Although he had always had an office at City Chambers for official business in 1868 David moved his private practice back to Royal Exchange, first to number 10 and then to number 11, adjacent to Cousin & Ormiston's at number 12. From 1875 onwards David Cousin withdrew to his house at 9 Coates Crescent and was frequently abroad trying to recover his health; and when he finally died in the USA in August 1878 Cousin & Ormiston appear to have taken over his practice. They did not retain the business of the British Linen Bank, David Cousin's main client.

George Cousin died on 17 September 1890 but Ormiston who became Lord Dean of Guild continued to practise under the firm's name. The practice's known works were few and unimportant until 1900 when the commission for the Hotel Paris was received.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 55, Bruntsfield Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1890 
Item 2 of 53, Johnson's Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1841c. 1843House only from 1844
Item 3 of 56, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1844  
Item 4 of 512, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1845 *  
Item 5 of 5140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1892 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 2David CousinBefore 1864Before 1878 As assistant or partner - role unclear
Item 2 of 2Cousin & OrmistonBefore 1878Before 1900(?)Partner 

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 51849Rossend Castle North East GatewayBurntisland FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 518551 Manor Place and 22 Coates Crescent  EdinburghScotlandMay also have been involved?
Item 3 of 51880Grange Publishing Works  EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 5c. 1890Business premises, George Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 51895Tenements with shops, Cadzow Place  EdinburghScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories SC70/1/289, 291 and Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills SC70/4/248

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Scotsman6 April 1895  p9

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 John Hinton Gall: L v17 no1275 (mentions 'G Cousin' as Ormiston's partner)