Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Napier | Designation: | | Born: | 4 July 1889 | Died: | 6 November 1946 | Bio Notes: | James Napier was born on 4 July 1889, the son of Alexander Napier, joiner and Annie McIntyre and appears to have been brought up in Port of Menteith, Perthshire. He was articled to John Fairweather from 5 December 1905 until 1910, during which period he was a student at the Glasgow School of Architecture from 1907 to 1912: as an exceptionally able student he was appointed assistant to Professor Charles Gourlay for the session 1909-1910.
In 1912 Napier joined John James Burnet's Glasgow office. He was called up for war service and was admitted ARIBA under the special war exemption scheme on 16 December 1918, his proposers being Fairweather, John Watson and Burnet.
Napier returned to Burnet's Glasgow office after the war but his relationship with Norman Aitken Dick was difficult in 1925-26. Napier was one of the draughtsmen engaged on Glasgow University Chapel, working closely with Burnet and James Taylor Thomson who had been brought in to supervise the project, but Dick lost patience with the time it was taking to draw out the fleche and Napier left to join James W Laird who took him into partnership.
Napier was an excellent architect of the Burnet school. He died of lung cancer at Hairmyres Hospital on 6 November 1946, survived by his wife Margaret McIntosh Maclaren. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 339, Caledonia Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1907 | 1908 | | | c/o Mackay/170, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1908 | 1909 | | | Dykehead, Port of Menteith, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1918 * | | | | 219, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1931 | After 1939 | Laird & Napier office | | Gable End Cottage/The Cottage, Peel Road, Thorntonhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1939 * | 1946 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | (Sir) John James Burnet | 16 December 1918 | for Associateship | | John Fairweather | 16 December 1918 | for Associateship | | John Watson | 16 December 1918 | for Associateship |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesArchive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from John Watson and research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no2680 (microfilm reel 22) |
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