Basic Biographical Details | Name: | John Adam | | Designation: | | | Born: | | | Died: | 30 May 1790(?) | | Bio Notes: | John Adam was a relative of Robert and James Adam. Little is known about his early life but he was married to ‘Margaret Darline daughter lawful to George Darline in the garrison of Inversnaid’. The proclamation of their marriage was made on 5 November 1748 and they were married in the Garrison Chapel on 18 November 1748.
In 1768-72 he was contractor for the first Jamaica Bridge. In his early years he appears to have been only a mason and contractor. He was Deacon of the Glasgow Masons in 1769. However he designed one country house, Petershill, and a range of houses facing Argyle Street from St Enoch’s burn westwards to and a short way down Jamaica Street, including Adam’s Court named after him. The principal house was built for Mr George Buchanan of Hillingdon. For all these he was mason and architect. In Glasgow directories of the 1780s he appears as such.
John Adam died in 1790. Colvin states he died on 30 June that year but this is incorrect. He may have died on 30 May as his death is reported in the Scots Magazine 1 June 1790.
As far as can be told, his work is in a plain 18th century style, vernacular in general pattern with a little detail of William Adam type.
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Buildings and Designs| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | 1767 | Petershill House | | | Glasgow (near) | Scotland | | | 1768 | Jamaica Bridge | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1770s(?) | Range of houses, Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Cleland, James | 1816 | Annals of Glasgow | | | Voluem i, p448 | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Glasgow Gentry | 1878 | The Old Country Houses of Old Glasgow Gentry | | | Plate lxxxi and text. | | Renwick (ed.) | 1913 | Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow | | | vii-viii. | | Senex | 1884 | Glasgow Past and Present | II | | p12, 433 |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this : | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scots Magazine | 1790 | | | p311 |
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