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Basic Biographic Details

Archibald Simpson
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
23/03/1847
Archibald Simpson was born in Aberdeen on 4 May 1790, the fifth son of the nine children of William Simpson, clothier, and his wife Barbara Dauney, daughter of the Rev Francis Dauney, minister of Banchory Ternan. His uncle was William Dauney, an Aberdeen architect and builder. Simpson was educated at the Grammar School in Aberdeen and attended Marischal College briefly. He received his initial training with an architect-builder, James Massie, but moved to London in 1810 and was employed initially there by the architect Robert Lugar. He transferred a year later to the office of David Laing but this was a temporary post. His struggles in London, in spite of letters of introduction, are recorded in two letters to his family. He visited Italy but returned home to Aberdeen in 1813.

Simpson set up business on his own account in the town. He was fortunate that Aberdeen was embarking on a series of ambitious street improvements about this time which coincided with technological advances enabling the use of granite as a building material. Simpson’s work made full use of the special qualities of this material and his talents as a designer and town-planner were put to good use.

Simpson’s contemporary, the architect John Smith, was already the City Architect when Simpson emerged on the scene. For the next thirty years or so almost every commission of importance went to either Smith or Simpson. Although Smith had the advantage of the official position, Simpson was the better designer. It was particularly in his Greek Revival designs (such as Aberdeen Music Hall and the porticoed county assembly rooms of 1820) that Simpson’s use of granite gives his buildings particular distinction. These were followed by a wide range of commissions including the Gothic Marischal College of 1837, the New Market of 1840, and in the same year his headquarters of the North of Scotland Bank, with its quadrant corner screen and richly decorated interior incorporating the Parthenon frieze. His finest design is reckoned to be Strathcathro House in Angus dating from 1828 with its fine Corinthian portico. Generally his Gothic churches are perhaps less successful. The brick octagonal spires he used for his series of Free Church designs in Aberdeen in 1843-44. are based on north German examples – highly unusual in the ‘granite city’ but necessary as a cost-cutting measure. Simpson’s practice included many designs for country houses which were generally neo-classical in style with occasional essays in Jacobethan and Scottish vernacular (for example Castle Newe and Meldrum). Toward the end of his life he experimented with a simplified classical style for example at Thainston House and Woodside Church. Simpson never competed for major public buildings in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Simpson was of slight build and ‘shy and retiring’ in character but was said to have been a man of 'strong and eccentric character'. He was remembered as ‘a little, active man, always to be seen carrying plans under his arm’. He loved music and played the violin. He was a member and president in 1844 of the local dining club knwn as the Maryculter Club.

He died intestate on 23 March 1847 at his home, 1 East Craibstone Street, Aberdeen. He never married. He was buried in the East Church of St Nicholas, Aberdeen. There are various portraits of Simpson all by his friend James Giles. One is in Aberdeen Art Gallery and two belong to the University of Aberdeen.

Few of his drawings survive as there was a major fire in his office in 1826. There are some drawings in Aberdeen Public Library.

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
1 East Craibstone Street Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
Aberdeen ScotlandBusiness

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
Robert Lugar204800In year 1810Assistant
David Laing203878In year 1811Assistant
James Massie408096Apprentice

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
James Matthews200044In year 1834In year 1839ApprenticeUnder Mackenzie's supervision
Thomas Mackenzie200897In year 1835Assistant
Peter Kerr201775In year 1839In year 1843Apprentice
William Ramage201810c. 1834ApprenticeRemained as assistant and became principal assistant
James Ross202440Clerk of Works

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
APSDThe Dictionary of ArchitectureThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892)ed Wyatt Papworth
New DNBNew Dictionary of National Biography
Colvin, H MA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18401995New Haven and London: Yale University Press3rd edition
Fraser, G MArchibald Simpson Architect and his times1918Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 5 April to 11 October 1918
Walker, DavidScottish Pioneers of the Greek Revival1984Chapter by Malcolm Higgs 'Archibald Simpson'.

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
RIAS Quarterly1947The Archibald Simpson Centenary Celebrations. With Memoir by W Douglas Simspon, reprinted with amplifications in RIASQ.
Builder1847vp217. Obituary.
Aberdeen JournalNotes and Queries 1, 1908, pp168-9