Basic Biographical Details

Name: Samuel Grant Alexander
Designation:  
Born: 1875
Died: 20 January 1953
Bio Notes: Samuel Grant Alexander was born in Inverness in 1875 but his roots were in Morayshire where he spent much time as a young man sketching the churches and abbeys and where his grandfather had owned Coxton Tower. He was articled to Duncan Cameron of Inverness in 1892. While with Cameron he was resident Clerk of Works at Glenfinnan House, Inverness-shire, overseeing the additions being made there. He was assistant to William Laidlaw Carruthers 1896-1900, and commenced independent practice in 1901 in partnership with Carruthers. He continued in partnership with William Laidlaw's son Robert Ballantyne Carruthers (later Carruthers Ballantyne) when William Laidlaw died in 1914. However Robert Carruthers Ballantyne joined up in 1914 and Alexander was left on his own to run the practice.

He was admitted LRIBA on 20 March 1911, his proposers being Carruthers, Alexander Ross and Herbert Read. Ross and Read were again his proposers, along with Wilfred Ainslie, when he became FRIBA in early 1921. Soon thereafter Alexander left for the United States and settled in North Carolina where he built up an extensive practice and was later joined by his son, Ludovic John Grant Alexander.

Alexander was particularly interested in heraldry. He taught for a spell at the Inverness Art School. Before he left for the United States he served as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the British Red Cross and a JP for Inverness-shire. He was later awarded the MBE.

He died in Asheville, North Carolina on 20 January 1953 two days short of his seventy-fifth birthday.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Raybank/Maybank/Raybank (?), Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandPrivate1911 *Before 1920 
Item 2 of 417, Queen's Gate, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1911After 1926 
Item 3 of 4Willow Bank, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandPrivate1920 *  
Item 4 of 4Asheville, North Carolina, United States of AmericaPrivate1953 * Place of death

* 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 4Duncan Cameron18921896Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4William Laidlaw Carruthers18961900Assistant 
Item 3 of 4W L Carruthers & Alexander19011914Partner 
Item 4 of 4Carruthers & Alexander1914(?)1916(?)Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Wilfred Ainslie1920 or 1921for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6William Laidlaw Carruthers20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 6Herbert Read20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 6Herbert Read1920 or 1921for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Alexander Ross20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 6Alexander Ross1920 or 1921for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Charles Robertson GallieLate 1921for Associateship

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 28 Lewis Castle with lodgesStornowayLewisRoss and CromartyScotlandConversion of original castle to hospital - date unknown
Item 2 of 28 Young Men's Christian AssociationInverness Inverness-shireScotlandConversion to YMCA - date unknown
Item 3 of 281895Erchless Castle  Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and new wing - as assistant to Duncan Cameron
Item 4 of 281895Glenfinnan MansionhouseGlenfinnan Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions - as resident Clerk of Works under Duncan Cameron
Item 5 of 281895Highland HotelFort William Inverness-shireScotlandAs assistant to Duncan Cameron
Item 6 of 28c. 1895Moy HallMoy and Dalarossie Inverness-shireScotlandAddition
Item 7 of 281896St Stephen's ChurchInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAs assistant to William Laidlaw Carruthers
Item 8 of 281897Dalcross Castle  Inverness-shireScotlandReroofing and internal remodelling from ruins - as assistant to William Laidlaw Carruthers
Item 9 of 281901Offices and shops, 15-45 QueensgateInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 10 of 281901Royal Bank of ScotlandInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 11 of 28After 1901(?)Belladrum House and lodge and farm cottagesBeauly Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 12 of 28After 1901Castle TolmieInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 13 of 28c. 1901Inshes HouseInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 14 of 281904Dalvey House, home farmMoy MorayshireScotlandChauffeur's cottage
Item 15 of 281904Tenement, Nelson StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 16 of 281904Workrooms adjoining 52 High StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 17 of 281907Allangrange House  Ross and CromartyScotlandExtensions and extensive recasting
Item 18 of 281908Alvie LodgeAlvie Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 19 of 281908Moy LodgeMoy Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 20 of 281909Moy HallMoy and Dalarossie Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations?
Item 21 of 281910House at DelniesNairn NairnshireScotland 
Item 22 of 281911Achnagairn (Clunes Estate)  Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 23 of 281911Drumduan HouseForres MorayshireScotlandAlterations
Item 24 of 281912Invertrossachs  PerthshireScotlandRebuilding - work executed by John Watherston & Sons, builders
Item 25 of 281913Pitmains HouseKingussie Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 26 of 281914CluneTomatin Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 27 of 281914Killilan Lodge  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 28 of 281915Hedgefield HouseInverness Inverness-shireScotlandConversion of original house to auxiliary hospital.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalAugust 1953 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p425
p426 Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBARIBA Biographical Files  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v12 no719 (microfilm reel 33); F no1749 (microfilm reel 14)