Skip to Main Content

Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Alexander Mackintosh
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
08/02/1945
Alexander Mackintosh was born in London on 2 October 1861. He was articled to Matthews & Lawrie of Inverness in 1878 or 1879 and moved to the Aberdeen branch of the same firm, Matthews & Mackenzie, in 1884, probably to work on the Northern Assurance Offices (AGR Mackenzie, in discussion with Tom Watson, recalled a brilliant draughtsman who assisted with this building, but could not remember his name); his ARIBA papers, however, fail to mention the initial period in Inverness.

Thereafter he moved to Edinburgh for the years 1885 and 1886, during which period his services were shared by Kinnear & Peddie and Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, but on what basis is unclear. In 1886 or 1887 he moved to London to work for H Saxon Snell & Son, William Young and Aston Webb, which enabled him to study at the RA Schools. He won the RIBA Silver medal (drawings) in 1890, the Tite Prize in 1891 and having passed the qualifying exam was admitted ARIBA on 7 March 1892, his proposers being Young, Webb and his master at the RA Schools, Richard Phené Spiers. He had undertaken study tours over the previous two years which embraced Italy, France, Germany and Belgium.

He emigrated to New York in 1893 to work for Francis Hatch Kimball, commencing practice on his own account in New York in 1901. He quickly acquired a reputation for commercial buildings and large country houses and in his later years was associate architect on the Long Branch New Jersey Housing Project, responsible for Garfield and Grace Courts.

Mackintosh was secretary of the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Institute of Architects from 1903 to 1905 and its President from 1910 to 1912. He became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1923 and was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1934, his proposers being Victor Daniel Horsburgh, Harvey Wiley Corbett and Alexander Nisbet Paterson.

Mackintosh died in retirement on 2 August 1945. His address was then 624 Woodgate Avenue, New Jersey.

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
14 Richmond Crescent Barnsbury London EnglandPrivate
628 Woodgate Avenue New York United States of AmericaPrivate
624 Woodgate Avenue New York New York United States of AmericaPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
101 Park Avenue New York United States of AmericaBusiness

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
Matthews & Lawrie1001301878 or 1879In year 1883Apprentice
H Saxon Snell & Son100343After 1886Before 1892Assistant
William Young201358After 1886Before 1892Assistant
Aston Webb200972After 1886Before 1892Assistant
Matthews & Mackenzie201802In year 1884In year 1885AssistantRemained as assistant for one year
Wardrop & Anderson200078In year 1885In year 1886Assistant
Kinnear & Peddie202322In year 1885In year 1886Assistant
Francis Hatch Kimball202511In year 1893In year 1901Assistant

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 Colvill Nairne206834In year 1906In year 1909Assistant

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this person for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
Aston Webb2009721892/03/07for Associateship
Richard Phené Spiers2036021892/03/07for Associateship
William Young2013581892/03/07for Associateship
Victor Daniel Horsburgh2002001934/12/03for Fellowship
Alexander Nisbet Paterson2003611934/12/03for Fellowship
Harvey Wiley Corbett2054701934/12/03for Fellowship

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
Northern Assurance Company Head Office1883 or 1884AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as assistant to Matthews & Mackenzie
Summer residence for the Misses Drier of BrooklynIn year 1904StoningtonConnecticutUnited States of America

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
British Architectural Library, RIBADirectory of British Architects 1834-19142001
Withey, Henry F and Withey, Elsie RathburnBiographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)1970Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc (originally published in 1956)Facsimile editionDate of death and of New York Times obituary appear to be incorrectly quoted.

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Empire State Architect19455p5

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005A v11 p120 (microfiche 50/C2); F no3228 (box 19)