Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Hamilton & Son
Designation:  
Born: 1910
Died:  
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 three children: 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 action on 1 July 1916, when serving as a private with the 17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (GSA Roll of Honour); he had declined a commission, feeling that he should 'serve in the line with everyone else'. John spent the First World War as architect to the Munition Works Board and thereafter practised alone at 112 Bath Street with the assistance of William James Smith, later Professor at the Glasgow School of Architecture. John died at 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 :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2212, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1910After 1924 
Item 2 of 2112, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1929 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 8Hugh Aitken Hutchison Walker1910June 1912Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8(Professor) William James Smith191012 October 1913Apprentice 
Item 3 of 8Arthur Donald Hamilton1910c. 1917Partner 
Item 4 of 8John H Hamilton19101935Partner 
Item 5 of 8Daniel MacKay (or McKay)19131920ApprenticeWith the exception of war service
Item 6 of 8William Baillie19151917ImproverJohn Hamilton described him as junior draughtsman in ARIBA paper)
Item 7 of 8(Professor) William James Smith1919January 1921 Prospective partner
Item 8 of 8John G HamiltonBefore 1935 PartnerContinued practice after the death of John Hamilton in 1935

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 51910Offices and Shop for Gorbals Grain MillsGorbals GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 51910Salvation Army Women's Hostel  EdinburghScotland 
Item 3 of 51912Workmen's dwellings   Scotland 
Item 4 of 5c. 1920Marlborough HouseShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 5Before 1935(?)Tenements (?) at Shawlands Junction  GlasgowScotlandDate unknown; unclear whether by John Hamilton alone or in partnership

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal9 November 1935v43London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp38 Obituary of John Hamilton

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Mitchell LibraryGildard's 'Some Old Glasgow Architects' supplementary manuscript  
Item 2 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from personal recollections of the late Professor William James Smith