Basic Biographical Details
| Name: | Magnus Tait |
| Designation: | |
| Born: | 19 February 1806 |
| Died: | 10 July 1887 |
| Bio Notes: | Magnus Tait was born on 19 February 1806. He was the son of George Tait and Ann Sandison. Magnus Tait married Marjory Banks and they had five children: Peter, James, Helen, Mary and Jeanie. The family home was in Coachroad, Wick. Nothing is know of his training though it is likely that he was apprenticed locally. Whilst practising as an architect he was also engaged in farming and fishcuring, occupying the farm Markethill, near Wick, for several years. It was while carrying on the fishcuring that Tait built the substantial and compact little harbour and adjacent store accommodation, on the north side of the Wick river, which was called Tait's Harbour. He spent a lot of money on this but on giving up the fish-curing business, sold the property. His obituarist describes him: 'Although of a very retiring disposition, Mr. Tait took a keen interest in his day in local affairs. He also had a strong taste for all sorts of legendary lore bearing upon Caithness and Caithness people. There are few places of persons of any note in the annals of the county of which he could not relate any number of interesting anecdotes, and was quite pleased to rehearse them to and appreciative listener'. His died on 10 July 1887 and is buried in the New Cemetery in Wick. He was survived by his widow and grown-up family. |
Private and Business Addresses
| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | |||||
| Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | |
 | Caithness, Scotland(?) | Business(?) | |||
Buildings and Designs
| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | |||||||
| Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | |
| 1856 | Lochend House | Dunnet Head | Caithness | Scotland | Repairs | |
| 1858 | Commercial Bank of Scotland, Wick | Wick | Caithness | Scotland | Repairs and improvements, £65 | |
| Before 1887 | Tait's Harbour | Wick | Caithness | Scotland | ||
References
Archive References
| The following archives hold material relating to this : | ||||
| Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | |
| Courtesy of Jill Tait, Tait's great granddaughter | Information via Dictionary website | Sent December 2011. | |