Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert Lockhart McCowat | Designation: | | Born: | 11 July 1859 | Died: | 1924 | Bio Notes: | Robert Lockhart McCowat was born at Thornliebank, Renfrewshire on 11 July 1859, the son of Robert McCowat and Elizabeth Morrison. He was articled to James Thomson of Glasgow from 1874 to 1878, remaining with him for one year as an improver. He moved to Dublin to work for William Hague from 1879 to 1880, thereafter spending brief periods with Andrew Scobie of Dunfermline and William Leiper in Glasgow prior to emigrating to South Africa, where he became assistant borough engineer and surveyor in Durban from 1881. In 1887 he moved to Johannesburg where he entered into partnership with Arthur Henry Reid (previously of Plymouth, Cape Town, Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth) the following year. At some point prior to 1897 McCowat withdrew to enter into partnership with George Arthur Hamilton Dickson who had been articled to George Edmund Street and after Street's death, Arthur Blomfield. McCowat was admitted FRIBA on 5 December 1898, his proposers being Thomson and Dickson. Dickson died in 1918, McCowat himself died in 1924. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Durban, South Africa | Business | 1881 | 1887 | | | Marshall's Chambers, Fox Street, Johannesburg, South Africa | Business | 1898 * | | | | 26 Primrose Buildings, Fraser Street, Johannesburg, South Africa | Business | 1910 * | | |
* 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 Hamilton Dickson | 5 December 1898 | for Fellowship | | James Thomson | 5 December 1898 | for Fellowship |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Seymour, D Picton | | Victorian buildings in South Africa | | | | | www.artefacts.co.za | | www.artefacts.co.za | | Website of artefacts, for the recording of South African buildings | Accessed February 2017 | | www.familysearch.org | | www.familysearch.org | | Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints: Website | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v13 p14 (microfiche 117/E6) |
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