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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5New Scone, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate 6 February 1873Place of death
Item 2 of 5Castle Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1832c. 1840 
Item 3 of 5Broughty Ferry, Dundee, ScotlandPrivatec. 1840  
Item 4 of 539, New Inn Entry, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessc. 1840c. 1845 
Item 5 of 5Brook Street, Monifieth, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessc. 1845c. 1855 

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 71833Constitution Road CemeteryPerth PerthshireScotlandWon competition to secure job. Layout based on model of Pere Lachaise
Item 2 of 71833Feu plan of nursery ground between Blackness and Scouring Burn  DundeeScotland 
Item 3 of 71834Feuing plan for the remainder of the field at Lower Chapelshade  DundeeScotlandSubmitted design in limited competition
Item 4 of 71834Formation of Constitution Brae  DundeeScotland 
Item 5 of 71834Watt Institution  DundeeScotlandDesign only: James Black was consulted but ignored the letter.
Item 6 of 71843Dundee Royal Infirmary  DundeeScotlandAdditions - wing to west with 67 more beds and possibly further south wing with 40 more beds.
Item 7 of 71845Western Cemetery, Dundee  DundeeScotlandLayout, lodge and gates

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 2 of 2Dundee Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Dundee Courier28 March 1866   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Census records onlineCensuses