Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Watt
Designation:  
Born: 8 July 1894
Died: 7 October 1969
Bio Notes: John Watt was born on 8 July 1894, the son of Alexander Watt, mining engineer and his wife, Barbara Fraser. He was articled to George Lennox Beattie of George Beattie & Son in 1909, studying at Edinburgh College of Art from 1910. On completing his apprenticeship in 1913 he joined Hippolyte Jean Blanc as assistant. His career was interrupted by military service from 1914 to 1919, but on his return he entered the office of James McLachlan, where he worked on Morningside Congregational Church and various business and other premises. He left in 1930 to take up an appointment as assistant in H M Office of Works under John Wilson Paterson, and commenced practice in Edinburgh on his own account a year later. After only three years, in 1934 he accepted the post of assistant at the Royal Infirmary, and he was still there when he was admitted LRIBA on 15 June 1943, his proposers being McLachlan, John Ross McKay, and B H Cuthbertson, the secretary of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, of which Watt was an Associate. His RIBA nomination papers state that he had travelled in Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Spain and North Africa.

Watt died on 7 October 1969 aged 75 at the City Hospital Edinburgh. He never married.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 225, Montpelier Park, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19311969 
Item 2 of 2Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1943 *  

* 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 5George Beattie & Son19091913Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Hippolyte Jean Blanc19131915Assistant 
Item 3 of 5James McLachlan19191930Assistant 
Item 4 of 5H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)19301931AssistantIn Edinburgh office, working under John Wilson Paterson, Chief Architect
Item 5 of 5John Wilson Paterson19301931AssistantIn H M Office of Works, Edinburgh

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2John Ross McKay15 June 1943 
Item 2 of 2James McLachlan15 June 1943 

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 11925Morningside Congregational Church and HallsMorningside EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to James McLachlan

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 4RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
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 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no5453 (combined box 80)