Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Henry Wallace
Designation:  
Born: 20 February 1882
Died: 12 October 1953
Bio Notes: James Henry Wallace was born in Aberdeen on 20 February 1882. He was related to Sir John James Burnet presumably through his brother George who was sheriff of Aberdeen. About 1890 he was articled to William Kelly in Aberdeen, becoming an assistant in John Burnet & Son's Glasgow office at the end of his articles. Thereafter he worked for a time in Buenos Aires, but returned to Burnet's London office before the First World War during which he had served in the Royal Flying Corps. He subsequently spent a period in Rangoon, returning to rejoin Burnet and Tait in the early 1920s. In 1925 he was admitted LRIBA prior to setting up independent practice in Regent Street in London. This seems not to have been a success as he returned to Burnet Tait & Lorne c.1934 to manage the Edinburgh office set up at 7 St Colme Street and later at 44 Charlotte Square to supervise the St Andrew's House project.

During the Second World War, Wallace served as a DCRE. He was a big man, described by Esmé Gordon, who had worked with him on the St Andrew's House project, as the 'Lord Clerk of Works' although the actual clerk of works on the site was R H Fernie.

Wallace returned to the Edinburgh office after the Second World War. He was partner in charge there at the time of his death on 12 October 1953, the practice title having changed to Sir John Burnet Tait & Partners (later abbreviated to Burnet Tait) in the late 1940s when Lorne had emigrated to Salisbury, Rhodesia.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBusinessAfter 1895Before 1914 
Item 2 of 5Rangoon, BurmaBusinessc. 1919Early 1920s 
Item 3 of 5Regent Street, London, EnglandBusinessc. 1925  
Item 4 of 544, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1938 First appears in directories at Burnet Tait & Lorne's address
Item 5 of 59, Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  

* 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 6William Kellyc. 1890c. 1895Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6John Burnet & Sonc. 1895Before 1914Assistant 
Item 3 of 6(Sir) John James BurnetBefore 19141914 or 1915AssistantIn London office
Item 4 of 6(Sir) John Burnet & PartnersEarly 1920sc. 1925AssistantIn London office
Item 5 of 6(Sir) John Burnet, Tait & Lornec. 1934c. 1939Architect(?)In charge of Edinburgh office
Item 6 of 6(Sir) John Burnet, Tait & LorneAfter 1945c. 1949PartnerIn charge of Edinburgh office

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 1c. 1934Scottish Office buildingsCalton Hill EdinburghScotlandExecuted scheme, known as St Andrew's House - in charge of Edinburgh office for Burnet, Tait & Lorne

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp2 Illustration of St Andrew's House
Item 2 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalFebruary 1954 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp167