Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert Burn | Designation: | Architect, Mason | Born: | 1752 | Died: | 5 June 1815 | Bio Notes: | Robert Burn was born in 1752 probably at Jessfield, Portobello. He was a mason by trade. The earliest reference to him found so far is in 1775 when he was acting as overseer of the masonry of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh. The church was being completed by the contractor James Weir.
On 4 April 1782 he was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh. In 1796 he was a member of the Dean of Guild Council in Edinburgh. Compared to some of his contempraries his name appears frequently in newspapers. Part of his business seems to have been acting as an agent for letting out houses. He was also the owner of an estate called Jessfield in North Leith.
Robert Burn was the father of the better known William Burn who was one of sixteen children. The older Burn died on 5 June 1815 and was buried in Calton Cemetery in a Gothic burial place erected by his wife and children in 1816.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect, mason: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Rose Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1787 | | |  | Leith Walk, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1800 | | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect, mason: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | |  | Scottish Record Society | 1933 | Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses | | | p28 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect, mason: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Gentleman's Magazine | 1815 | i | | p647 |  | Scots Magazine | 1815 | | | p559 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect, mason: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Photographic Archive | | Photo of portrait |
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