Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Alistair Ross | Designation: | | Born: | 5 June 1882 | Died: | 17 June 1955 | Bio Notes: | John Alistair Ross was born at Riverfield, Inverness on 5 June 1882, the son of Alexander Ross of Ross & Macbeth and his wife Mary Ann Finlayson. He was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond and at Inverness College and was articled to the family firm on 1 October 1900. After completing his apprenticeship, moved to Edinburgh where he spent two years in the office of Peddie & Washington Browne. Whilst there he attended classes at Edinburgh School of Art and Heriot-Watt College. In 1906 he went to London to work as a draughtsman with Marshall Mackenzie & Son, returning at the end of the following year to join his father in partnership as Alexander Ross & Son following the dissolution of the partnership of Ross & Macbeth. In the same year, 1907, he was appointed architect to Inverness County Council and to the Inverness and North Board of Control.
In 1914 he was mobilized. He formed the anti-aircraft defences at Cromarty in 1915, and subsequently served in France, as a Major in command of the 192 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. On his return in February 1919 he rejoined the family firm, becoming sole partner following the death on 19 May 1925 of his father, who had ceased taking an active role in the business two years previously. A few years earlier, in 1921, he had married Olive Cameron, daughter of the Rev Allan Cameron.
He was admitted LRIBA in early 1931, his proposers being John Watson, George Arthur Boswell and the then secretary of the RIAS, and was advanced to FRIBA by the RIBA Council on 27 October of the same year. By that time he had been architect to the Inverness District Board of Control for over twenty years. He continued the practice until his death on 17 June 1955, latterly in partnership with W W Mitchell who died in 1966. He was survived by his wife Olive Cameron and a daughter. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Queensgate Chambers, Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland | Business | 1931 * | After 1950 | | | Nessdale, Island Bank Road, Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland | Private | Before 1931 | 1955 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | George Arthur Boswell | Early 1931 | for Licentiateship | | RIBA Council | 27 October 1931 | for Fellowship | | John Watson | Early 1931 | for Licentiateship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Scottish Biographies | 1938 | | | E J Thurston (pub.) | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no3765 (box 16); F no2946 (box 14) |
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