Basic Biographical Details Name: | John McNeill | Designation: | | Born: | 12 April 1888 | Died: | 16 September 1955 | Bio Notes: | John McNeill was born on 12 April 1888 at Sandbank, Argyl, the son of Duncan McNeill, master mariner, and his wife Mary Tyre. He was articled to Boston, Menzies & Morton of Greenock in October 1904. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1910 he remained as chief assistant, but he left the following year to emigrate to Malaya. There he commenced practice as a partner in the firm of Stark & McNeill in 1912, with offices in Penang, Ipoh and later also in Johore; nothing is yet known of Stark. In 1920 Charles Geoffrey Boutcher was taken into partnership, the practice title remaining unchanged; and in February the following year James Tyre McNeill, who must have been a brother and who had likewise trained with Boston, Menzies & Morton, joined the firm as an assistant; he was taken into partnership on 22 March 1928. Two years later another Scot, Joseph Charles Miller, was taken into partnership, having joined the firm as chief assistant in 1926.
In either 1932 or 1934 (there is a conflict of information between the nomination papers of the various partners), the practice title was changed to McNeill & Miller. In 1934 or 1935 Miller left to practise on his own account. It appears that James Tyre McNeill had also left by this time as John McNeill continued to practise alone, reverting to the earlier firm title of Stark & McNeill.
John McNeill retired in 1937 and returned to Scotland either then or shortly thereafter. He was admitted LRIBA on 5 March 1943, proposed by Frank Dorrington Ward, Government Architect in the Singapore Public Works Department, who wrote in his supporting statement that McNeill had 'carried out a large number of architectural works of considerable magnitude' whilst in practice in Northern Malaya and Johore. McNeill's address was The Cromlech, Sandbank, Argyll, and his declaration accepting his admittance was witnessed by Janet McNeill, who was his sister.
McNeill returned to Scotland, persuambly on his retirement and died at The Cromlech on 16 September 1955. He was survived by his wife, Jessie Thomson Ferguson. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | The Cromlech, Sandbank, Argyll, Scotland | Business | c. 1943 | After 1950(?) | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Frank Dorrington Ward | 5 March 1943 | for Licentiateship |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
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 no5414 (combined box 77) |
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