Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Miller | Designation: | | Born: | 26 July 1805 | Died: | 7 May 1883 | Bio Notes: | John Miller was born in Ayr on 26 July 1805, the eighth child of James Miller, who started out as a joiner but who moved from West Kilbride to Ayr where he became a successful builder, and his wife Margaret Caldwell. He was educated at Ayr Academy and at the University of Edinburgh and commenced his professional training in the office of Mr C D Gairdner, solicitor, at the age of twelve, but after a five-year apprenticeship he decided to train as a land surveyor, entering the office of Thomas Grainger in Edinburgh in 1823. Two years later Grainger took him into partnership as Grainger & Miller.
The practice was concerned almost exclusively with railway engineering in Scotland and England, Grainger and Miller working separately although remaining in partnership until c. 1847. Miller was elected an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers in June 1830, and transferred to Member in May 1832. On 30 November 1834 he married Isabella Ogilvie, daughter of a Perth merchant and the couple had four daughters and a son.
By 1835 Miller was chief engineer for the Dundee and Arbroath Railway, the Glasgow, Ayr and Kilmarnock Railway (later the Glasgow and South Western Railway) and the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, among others. He was esteemed in railway circles, not only as an organiser, but as a successful designer of steam locomotives.
Miller was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1840.
Miller retired in 1849 and purchased the estates of Leithenhopes in Peeblesshire and Drumlithie in Kincardineshire, devoting much of his time thereafter to the management and improvement of these estates. He contested Stirling on 13 July 1852 and Edinburgh in 1865 and became a Member of Parliament for the City of Edinburgh in 1868 but lost his seat at the general election in 1874. He is described in the 1881 Census as 'Estate Owner'. He died in Edinburgh on 7 May 1883, leaving estate of £37,475 19s 8d. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 50, Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before September 1835 | After May 1838 | | | 23, Rutland Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before December 1840 | After July 1842 | | | Millfield House, Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland | Private | Before March 1844 * | After 1861 | | | Leithen Lodge, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1867 | After 1880 | | | 46, Hyde Park Square, London, England | Private | 1871 * | | | | 2, Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1879 | After 1880 | |
* 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 | | Grainger & Miller | Before 1837 | 1845 | Partner | |
Employees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/fellowship/misc.htm | | http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/fellowship/misc.htm | | | Accessed February 2011 | | http://www.vitalhost.biz/Woodroad/Viaduct-JohnMiller.htm | | http://www.vitalhost.biz/Woodroad/Viaduct-JohnMiller.htm | | | Accessed February 2011 | | www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/local/mauchline/index/viaduct.html | 2005 | www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/local/mauchline/index/viaduct.html | | Ayrshire Electronic Community website: page on Ballochmyle Viaduct | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census records online | Censuses | | | | Courtesy of Cathleen Duff | Information setn via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent February 2011 | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | HM New Register House | OPR (Register of births) | | | | National Archives (via Scotlands People) | Statutory births | | |
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