Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Thomas Webster | | Designation: | | | Born: | 11 February 1772 | | Died: | 26 December 1844 | | Bio Notes: | Thomas Webster was born on 11 February 1772, probably in Kirkwall, Orkney, the only son of Alexander Webster and his wife, Mary Baikie. He showed early promise as an artist. He was educated at Kirkwall grammar school and by private tutors, and then, from 1785 to about 1789, attended lectures at Aberdeen University where he assisted Professor Patrick Copland, a populariser of science. After two years as a tutor in Dublin, he enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools as an architectural student in 1793 and was simultaneously a pupil of Robert Mitchell at whose address he was living in 1796. His business card which is preserved at the RIBA indicates that he was a 'Teacher of Architecture, Perspective etc.' and was able to instruct pupils in 'Geometry, Mensuration, Land Surveying, Architecture, The Doctrine of Light and Shadow, Perspective, Landscape and the Elements of Natural Philosophy'.
Count Rumford heard of this and asked him to establish an artisans' school in the newly founded Royal Institution in Albemarle Street, to which Webster agreed. From 14 September 1799 until 26 April 1802, as the poorly paid clerk of works and clerk, he supervised the building work, designed and built the lecture theatre, library and chemistry laboratory. The designs were later modified by James Spiller. Webster also assisted the lecturers, and developed Rumford's theories concerning the heating, ventilation, and lighting of buildings. However, for political reasons, his widely praised technical school, begun in 1801, was soon closed.
Rather than returning to architecture, Webster chose the more independent and then lucrative occupation of landscape painting in watercolours, although in 1810 he had one essay into architecture, designing the observatory in Glasgow. Additionally he resumed teaching and compiled introductory textbooks. His revised and enlarged an edition of J Imison's ‘Elements of Science and Art’ (1804) which ran to further revised editions (1808, 1822). Also during this period, he assisted with geological field sketches and illustrations, and realized that geology offered scope for his accomplishments.
He forged a new career as a geologist in which field he excelled. However his early research was his most important. Lack of resources hindered his later work. From 1841 he was Professor of Geology in University College London. The income from this was minimal. He was by then in poor health and existed mainly on charity from his geological colleagues and a small annual state pension for services to geology.
He died in straightened circumstances in his lodgings in Middlesex Street in London on 26 December 1844 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery.
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Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | Robert Mitchell | 1790s | | Apprentice | |
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 | | 1800 | Royal Institution of Great Britain | Mayfair | | London | England | Lecture theatre, library and repository - assisted Count Rumford with design. Plans subsequently altered by James Spiller. | | 1810 | Observatory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The 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 | | | DNB | | Dictionary of National Biography | | | |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this : | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architects Journal | 23 October 1941 | | | pp269-70 |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this : | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal | Drawings Collection | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Drawings Collection | | Drawings. Also T. Webster, ‘Autobiography’, 1837, Royal Institution of Great Britain, London, 121A–121B
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