Architects

Name:

John Dobson

Designation :

Architect

Date of Birth:

Exact Date

Exact DOB:

12/09/1787

Year of Birth :

Circa Year of Birth :

Date of Birth Before (Year):

Date of Birth After (Year):

DOB (1st 'Or' Year):

DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):

Orig Date of Death

1865/1/08

Date of Death:

Date Not Known

Exact DOD:

04/05/1926

Year of Death:

Circa Year of Death:

Date of Death Before (Year):

Date of Death After (Year):

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DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):

Town of Birth :

Bio Notes :

John Dobson was born at Chirton, North Shields, County Durham on 9 December 1787, the son of a prosperous market gardener of the same name. Initially his father trained him as a gardener, sending him to the Earl of Strathmore's Gibside estate for experience. His skill as a botanical artist brought employment from a damask manufacturer while still in his early teens and as soon as he was old enough he went to Newcastle to study landscape painting under the Italian refugee Boniface Musso or Musi as he was known in Newcastle, the painter John Martin being a fellow pupil.

Dobson then studied mechanical and architectural drawing under a Mr Hall of Stamfordham who was bridge surveyor for Northumberland. This gave him a knowledge of civil engineering which was to prove useful later. In 1804 he commenced an architectural apprenticeship with David Stephenson in Newcastle and at the end of it he went to London where he studied watercolour under John Varley and became friendly with the painter Robert Smirke RA and his sons Robert and Sydney.

Late in 1809 or early 1810 Dobson returned to Chirton to commence independent practice. He was immediately successful, securing major commissions in Newcastle and North Shields, and moved to Newcastle where he settled permanently in 1812. At some point early in his career he made a study tour in France which probably contributed significantly to his mastery of neo-classical design.

In 1816 Dobson married Isabella Rutherford at Gateshead. She was a skilful amateur watercolourist. Two sons of the marriage, John and Alexander Ralph, became assistants in the practice. John trained under his father but Alexander was articled to Sydney Smirke who married Dobson's eldest daughter Isabella in 1840.

Dobson had an enormous practice which embraced public buildings, country house work, bridge building, harbour works, warehouses, and railway stations notably that at Newcastle with its pioneer arched trainsheds. He was admitted FRIBA on 28 June 1845, his proposers being Anthony Salvin, Sydney Smirke, Thomas Leverton Donaldson and William Burn.

In October 1854 Dobson lost the more promising of his two sons, Alexander, who was killed in the Gateshead explosion and fire in that month. Although by then sixty-seven he remained in practice and was elected first president of the Northern Architectural Association in 1859, but in 1862 he suffered a severe stroke and retired to Ryton. Late in 1864 he returned to his house and office at New Bridge Street, Newcastle where he died on 8 January 1865. Although he left his drawings and instruments to his surviving son John, the practice was sold to Thomas Austin who continued it is partnership with Robert James Johnston, previously in George Gilbert Scott's office.

Bio Notes continued...

Additional Notes

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

Private Addresses2 classic

Address	Class	Date From Char	Date From Type	Date To Char	Date To Type	Notes
Chirton, North Shields County Durham England	Private/business

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Business Addresses2 classic

Address	Class	Date From	Date From Type	Date To	Date To Type	Notes
Chirton, North Shields County Durham England	Private/business	1810		1812
New Bridge Street Newcastle upon Tyne England	Business	1823		1862

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

Employers2 classic

Name	Name Link	Date From	Date To	Position	Notes
David Stephenson	408009	In year 1804		Apprentice

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

Employees or Pupils2 classic

Name	Name Link	Date From	Date To	Position	Notes
Campbell Douglas	200794	c. 1847	1855 or 1856	Assistant

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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	City or County	Country	Notes
Gortanloisk	In year 1827	Dunoon (near)	Argyll	Scotland
Ladykirk House, North Lodge	In year 1850		Berwickshire	Scotland
Dildawn	In year 1852	Rhonehouse	Kirkcudbrightshire	Scotland	Alterations and additions - probably porch added about this time.
Glamis Castle	In year 1856		Angus	Scotland	Chimneypiece from Gibbside in billiard room which may date from John Dobson\'s alterations there.

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The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

Author	Title	Date	Publisher	Part	Notes
Faulkner, Tom and Grey, Andrew	John Dobson Newcastle Architects 1878-1865	1987	Tyne and Wear Museums Service
Colvin, Howard	A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840	2008	London: YUP. 4th edition

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The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical Name	Date Circ	Edition	Notes
Building News	1865/01/13	*
Builder	1865/01/14	*
Newcastle Daily Journal	1865/01/16	*	Gives full job list
Glasgow Herald	1865/12/29

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Basic Biographic Details

Addresses

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

Employment and Training

Employers2 classic

Employees or Pupils

Employees or Pupils2 classic

Buildings and Designs

Buildings and Designs2 classic

References

Bibliographic References

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Periodical References

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