Basic Biographical Details | Name: | John Paterson | | Designation: | Architect | | Born: | 14 January 1832 | | Died: | 15 July 1877 | | Bio Notes: | John Paterson was born on 14 January 1832, the older son of Thomas Paterson, clerk of works to the Duke of Hamilton and his wife Margaret Instant and was the older brother of Robert Hamilton Paterson (1843-1911). His first cousin was Robert Paterson, architect and city assessor, who had been born in 1825 and apprenticed to George Beattie & Son. Whether John was also articled to the Beatties is not yet known; also unknown is whether he worked for his cousin who had established his own practice c.1860.
Paterson commenced practice at 27 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh c.1863 in partnership with Robert Thornton Shiells. Both the address and Paterson's use of a monogram at 49-55 Bernard Street Leith suggest that Paterson had a link with Peddie & Kinnear. Born in 1833, Shiells was a year younger and had trained in Bryce's office: he had commenced practice in the mid-1850s from his home address at 7 Gilmore Place. Both architects were - initially at least - enthusiasts for Italian Gothic and Romanesque. The partnership lasted until about 1867, Paterson setting up office at 21 St Andrew Square and Shiells at 62 George Street.
Paterson died on 15 July 1877 and was buried at Grange. The practice was taken over by Archibald Macpherson, then by Robert Rowand Anderson's office. Paterson's son, Thomas Tolmie Paterson was, however, articled to Anderson rather than Macpherson when he reached apprenticeship age in 1880. Paterson's widow Margaret Tolmie Paterson died on 4 September 1926 at Kilmore, Morayshire. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1841 | | |  | 13, East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1863 | c. 1866 | |  | 27, Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1863 | c. 1867 | |  | 21, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1867 | 1877 | His cousin Robert is shown at the same address in about 1870, separately from his own address at 10 Hanover Street, c1868-71 |  | 3, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before 1875 | 1877 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | Paterson & Shiells | c. 1863 | c. 1867 | Partner | |
Employees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this architect: | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories Sc70/1/184 and Wills SC70/4/168 |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Census Records | Census 1841 | | |  | GROS | Records of Marriages | | Marraige certificate of John Paterson & Margaret Tolmie 9/06/1863 |  | H M Register House | Death Register | | Death certificate of Robert Hamilton Paterson 14/10/1911 |  | Information courtesy of Dr Ian Anderson | Information via website | | Sent January 2009 |
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