Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Burn | Designation: | | Born: | 1759 | Died: | c. 1820 | Bio Notes: | George Burn was born in 1759 at Yester, East Lothian, the younger brother of James Burn. He practised as architect, civil engineer and bridge builder.
His earliest recorded bridge designs date to about 1798. These were followed by some large and important bridge commissions such as that at Fochabers. There were financial difficulties connected to this commission and the estate was sequestrated in 1803. Nearly 100 years later a petition by George Logie for the appointment of a judicial factor on a certain fund which was part of the estate of ‘George Burn, architect in Fochabers’ appeared in the Edinburgh Gazette in 1892. This and another claim were against the sequestrated estate of George Burn. There seems to have been some residue after all the other claims were paid in full and it is from this the applicants hoped to settle their claims.
Despite the sequestration Burn continued to be involved with civil engineering projects as a contractor employed by the Commissioners of Roads and Bridges in the Highlands, building a number of bridges to the designs of Thomas Telford. He also built various harbours for the British Fisheries Society. He was established in Wick by 1806 (though still referred to as ‘architect in Fochabers’ many years after his death.
Besides the engineering work he is known to have undertaken he built at least one church. He also worked for the Duke of Gordon on his estate.
He died about 1820.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Fochabers, Morayshire, Scotland | Private/business | 1780s | 1790s | | | Wick, Caithness, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1806 | | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Aberdeen Journal | 15 November 1803 | | | | | Caledonian Mercury | 24 March 1804 | | | | | Edinburgh Gazette | 13 September 1892 | 10396 | | p.1045 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Rob Close | Information via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent January 2012 |
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