Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Boston
Designation:  
Born: c. 1856
Died: 11 October 1889
Bio Notes: John Boston was the fourth son of James Boston of Coatbridge and was articled to James Baird in Glasgow. He went to Greenock in c.1877 to join the Office of Public Works as assistant at 18 Hamilton Street. It would appear that one of his older brothers, James, who was a butcher by trade, moved to Greenock about the same time. By 1881 he had opened a shop at 5 West Blackhall Street. John Boston held the post of assistant in the Office of Works for seven years. His house at this time was 4 Finnart Street.

He commenced business on his own account as architect, measurer and surveyor in 1884 from an office at 11 William Street. His home address by this date was 73 Nicholson Street. Possibly due to poor health his brother James emigrated to Melbourne, Australia but died three days after he landed there. John too suffered from poor health and had been ailing for some time before his early death on 11 October 1889. He had taken an active part in the social life of Greenock being a a member of the cricket club and of the choral society. He was not married.

His business was taken over by William Menzies of Dumbarton and George Morton of Greenock who formed partnership with offices both in Greenock and Dumbarton. Boston's name was retained in the practice title which remained unchanged until at least 1940.

Despite the fact that little is known of the partners, the firm of Boston Menzies & Morton was very able, the Greenock Masonic Temple being quite Burnetian and the Queen's Hotel at Kirn inventive Arts and Crafts with Art Nouveau touches. A strong Art Nouveau influence is also present in the flowing tracery of Clune Park Church at Port Glasgow. Their office right up to at least 1940 remained at 11 William Street, Greenock.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 74, Finnart Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1881 or 1882  
Item 2 of 718, Hamilton Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1882 *  
Item 3 of 773, Nicholson Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1882 or 18831884 or 1885 
Item 4 of 724, Union Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1885 or 1886  
Item 5 of 711, William Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1885 or 18861889 
Item 6 of 732, Brisbane Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1886 or 18871887 or 1888 
Item 7 of 739, Fox Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1888 or 1889  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 6Before 1889Christian InstituteGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 2 of 6Before 1889Episcopal SchoolGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 3 of 6Before 1889Forresters HallGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 4 of 6Before 1889Greenock Telegraph OfficeGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 6Before 1889Mearns Street EU Congregational ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 6Before 1889Post Office BuildingsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Greenock Post Office directories Greenock Post Office directories   
Item 2 of 2Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Greenock Sheriff Court SC53/41/4