Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Rattray Findlater | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1813 or c. 1802 | Died: | 1866 or 6 February 1873 | Bio Notes: | There is yet some confusion about James R Findlater. Colvin following Professor D Walker notes that James Rattray Findlater was born c.1802, probably at Scone and was the son of John Findlater, factor to the Earl of Mansfield and Isabella Moncrieff and may have trained with his father. This may be the case but Census records indicate that another James R Findlater was born in about 1811/1813 in Alyth. Almost certainly there are two civil engineers of this name but at present it is unclear who undertook what job.
In Findlater's evidence to the Parliamentary Committees on the Waterworks Bill of 1835-36, he stated that he had commenced practice as a civil engineer and architect in 1821 and settled in Dundee in 1832. His profession was then given as land surveyor and civil engineer only with an address in Castle Street, but in April 1834 he provided designs for the Watt Institution. By 1840 he had moved office to 39 New Inn Entry with a house in Broughty Ferry, and by 1845 he was practising only from Brook Street in Broughty Ferry/Monifieth where he remained until the mid-1850s.
The obituary of 1866 states that he was responsible for the original planning of the Dundee and Perth Railway and that he designed the gateway and walls at the Western Cemetery. He would appear to have won a prize for an essay on reservoirs for agricultural purposes from the Highland and Agricultural Society in 1838.
Colvin following Walker gives his death date as 6 February 1873 in Scone aged 69. However there is a short obituary in the Dundee Courier on 28 March 1866 which announces the death of James R Findlater, civil engineer and architect at his home in Broughty Ferry. To add further confusion James R Findlater of Broughty Ferry is listed among those who applied for the town surveyorship of Dundee in 1868 (Dundee Courier 22 April 1868). In the Dundee directory for 1869-70 there is an entry for J R Findlater at Barnhill Links, Broughty Ferry.
Publications: Findlater, James R. & Buchanan, George. Report relative to the formation of a railway between the towns of Dundee and Perth. Dundee, D. Hill, 1835.
Findlater, James R. Report relative to the formation of a railway between the towns of Dundee and Perth, passing theough the district of the Carse of Gowrie. Dundee, 1835.
Findlater, James R. Plan of part of the town of Montrose shewing the site of the proposed dock, and its locality, the ground required for its formation &c. Glasgow, 1839. Maclure & Macdonald, draughtsmen & lithographers, 57 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Montrose Museum.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | New Scone, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | | 6 February 1873 | Place of death | | Castle Street, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1832 | c. 1840 | | | Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland | Private | c. 1840 | | | | 39, New Inn Entry, Dundee, Scotland | Business | c. 1840 | c. 1845 | | | Brook Street, Monifieth, Dundee, Scotland | Business | c. 1845 | c. 1855 | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Dundee Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Dundee Courier | 28 March 1866 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census records online | Censuses | | |
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