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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Thomas Bernard Collinson (Major General)
Designation :
Architect - Engineer
Date of Birth:
Year Only
Exact DOB:
14/05/1926
Year of Birth :
1821
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Exact Date
Exact DOD:
05/01/1902
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
Thomas Bernard Collinson was born in 1821, the son of Rev. John Collinson, Rector of Gateshead. He entered the Royal Engineers in 1838. He was posted to Wales where he undertook ordnance survey work, followed by similar work in Ireland and the north of England. In 1843 he sailed for Hong Kong where he worked on a survey of the coast. From there he moved to New Zealand via Sydney, Australia and assisted in the construction of roads on North Island and 'took part in the movements directed to quell the native disturbances in 1847'.
Collinson returned to England in 1850 and worked on the Great Exhibition. He afterwards moved to Waltham where he remained until 1856 when he obtained the post of commander of the Royal Engineers at Aldershot. That same year, 1856, he married Katherine Baker, daughter of the Rev J Baker, Chancellor to the Diocese of Durham. The following year, 1857, he was sent to Corfu remaining there for three years. For six years he taught architecture at Chatham but was then posted to Malta. In 1869 he was appointed to the command at Dover where he remained until his retirement from the corps in 1873. It is not ye clear when he reached the rank of Major General.
He retired to Basingstoke but accepted a post as architect to the Scottish Prison Commission in the 1880s. He was subsequently forced to retire from ill health and settled in Ealing.
He died on 1 May 1902.
There is a portrait on Collinson in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG D34043).
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
Edinburgh Scotland
Business
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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 Name
Date Started
Town, District or Village
Island
City or County
Country
Notes
Barlinnie Prison
In year 1880
Riddrie
Glasgow
Scotland
Probably by Collinson
Calton Prison
In year 1881
Edinburgh
Scotland
Reconstruction
Dumfries Prison
In year 1883
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
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References
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this person:
Period ref classic
Periodical Name
Publisher
Date Circ
Edition
Notes
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers
1902
v.150
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