Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Cousin | Designation: | | Born: | | Died: | 17 September 1890(?) | Bio Notes: | George Cousin was David Cousin's brother and commenced practice as an ordained surveyor from his house at 3 Johnson's Place about 1840 or 1841. In about 1844 he took an office at 6 Royal Exchange, close to his brother at number 12; and when David moved office to George Street in the following year, Cousin took over his premises at number 12. George's practice was extensive and not exclusively surveying as at least one architectural drawing by him is known. By at least 1864 he had been joined by William Ormiston: in his RIBA Nomination paper John Hinton Gall refers to Ormiston as George's partner although the practice title of Cousin & Ormiston was not adopted until about 1877. Although he had always had an office at City Chambers for official business in 1868 David moved his private practice back to Royal Exchange, first to number 10 and then to number 11, adjacent to Cousin & Ormiston's at number 12. From 1875 onwards David Cousin withdrew to his house at 9 Coates Crescent and was frequently abroad trying to recover his health; and when he finally died in the USA in August 1878 Cousin & Ormiston appear to have taken over his practice. They did not retain the business of the British Linen Bank, David Cousin's main client.
George Cousin died on 17 September 1890 but Ormiston who became Lord Dean of Guild continued to practise under the firm's name. The practice's known works were few and unimportant until 1900 when the commission for the Hotel Paris was received. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 5, Bruntsfield Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | 1890 | | | 3, Johnson's Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1841 | c. 1843 | House only from 1844 | | 6, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1844 | | | | 12, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1845 * | | | | 140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1892 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | David Cousin | Before 1864 | Before 1878 | | As assistant or partner - role unclear | | Cousin & Ormiston | Before 1878 | Before 1900(?) | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories SC70/1/289, 291 and Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills SC70/4/248 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scotsman | 6 April 1895 | | | p9 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | John Hinton Gall: L v17 no1275 (mentions 'G Cousin' as Ormiston's partner) |
|