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Basic Biographic Details

Robert Reid Raeburn
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
07/02/1888
Robert Reid Raeburn was born on 4 August 1819, the son of James Raeburn, principal clerk to the Scottish Office of Works from 1827, and his first wife Mary Ann Petrie: his forenames were evidently a tribute to his father's employer. Robert was however articled to Thomas Brown Junior, architect to the Prison Board for Scotland, rather than to Reid, and while in Brown's office he exhibited a scheme for a monument to Knox (1837), his competition design for the Scott Monument (1838), and a proposal for the refacement of the George IV Bridge frontage of the County Buildings (1838). All of these were sent from his father's house at 9 South East Circus Place.

From 1841 onwards Raeburn worked for his father who had been pensioned off in 1839 and had commenced practice on his own account. Robert's exhibits at the RSA were thereafter sent in his father's name from his house and office at 3 Warriston Place and, from the late 1840s, 4 Warriston Crescent. These followed similar themes of civic improvements, a testimonial to Wellington, the improvement of the North Bridge and Parliament Square and a competition design for the Free Church College on the Mound, the Raeburns having 'come out' (left the Established Church) at The Disruption.

On 30 September 1851 James Raeburn died. Robert announced that he was carrying on his father's business in the RSA catalogue of 1852, although he did not appear as an exhibitor in that year: surprisingly he did not exhibit again until 1865, by which date he had moved office to Pitt Street.

In 1858 Raeburn took over the feuing of the Grange estate where many of the villas are in the same distinctive freestyle Renaissance as his Ashbrook and Rosetta, Wardie in the Inverleith area; and by the 1880s he had moved to 44 Charlotte Square, indicating a fair degree of commercial success. He died on 7 February 1888 and was buried with his parents and step-mother in St Cuthbert's Churchyard. His practice was continued by George A Lyle as Raeburn & Lyle.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
3 Warriston Place Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business
4 Warriston Crescent Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/businessFrom the late 1840s
44 Charlotte Square Edinburgh ScotlandPrivateBy 1880s

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
3 Warriston Place Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1843c. 1846
4 Warriston Crescent Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1848c. 1851From the late 1840s
21 Pitt Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessc. 1855c. 1877With John P Raeburn after 1879 at this address

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
James Raeburn202289In year 1841In year 1851Assistant
Thomas Brown II200146c. 1835c. 1841Apprentice

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
George Alexander Lyle2021121888/02/07Chief Assistant

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Monument to the Memory of John KnoxIn year 1837
Scott MonumentIn year 1838EdinburghScotlandUnsuccessful competition design exhibited
Midlothian County HallIn year 1839EdinburghScotlandDesign for west elevation to George IV Bridge
Elgin MuseumIn year 1841ElginMorayshireScotlandPlans submitted for new museum - not chosen
Wellington TestimonialIn year 1841Design using columns of the National Monument on Calton Hill (in James's name)
Design for widening North BridgeIn year 1843EdinburghScotlandin James's name
Design for improving the entrance to Parliament SquareIn year 1844EdinburghScotlandUnder James's name
Free High Church and Free Church Collegec. 1844EdinburghScotlandCompetition design (exhibited in James's name)
Davidson's Mains School and SchoolhouseIn year 1845EdinburghScotlandIn James Raeburn's name?
Architectural DesignIn year 1845Exhibited in James's name
Design for Unspecified MonumentIn year 1850In James's name
Grange EstateIn year 1858GrangeEdinburghScotlandFurther feuing in 1858 - extended by Robert R Raeburn - revision of Cousin plan
Shopfront, George StreetIn year 1858EdinburghScotland
Villa, 35 Lauder RoadIn year 1860EdinburghScotland
Grange EstateIn year 1864GrangeEdinburghScotlandFurther feuing in 1864 - extended by Robert R Raeburn - revision of Cousin plan

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Architects Engineers and Building Trades DirectoryArchitect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory1868London, Wyman
Post Office Directories
Kelly's Building TradesKelly's Building Trades1886