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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

James Adam
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
20/10/1794
James Adam was born in 1732 in Edinburgh, the third son of William Adam and his wife Mary Robertson and the younger brother of John and Robert Adam. He was already a competent draughtsman in his early twenties. He made a tour of Italy from 1760 to 1763. He was accompanied by the draughtsman George Richardson and in Venice he was joined by the French architectural draughtsman Charles-Louis Clérisseau who went with him to Rome. From there he visited Naples and Paestum and although the intention was to continue to Greece and Sicily, this did not happen. He kept a journal during his trip and it shows the critical attitude to Palladio and an interest in ‘grotesque’ and Pompiean decoration. This type of decoration later appeared in the introduction to ‘The Works of Robert and James Adam’. In personality James Adam lacked the drive, ambition and genius of Robert. He was clearly happy to remain in his shadow as junior partner in the firm in London rather than setting himself up independently. Robert had already established the Adam style by the time he returned from the study tour and James seems to have had little input into its development. However he does share the credit for the many buildings he and Robert designed together. A small number of buildings were designed by James on his own but these do not truly reflect his talent.

James was also responsible for four buildings in Glasgow which were all built after Robert’s death in 1792. Although the Infirmary in Glasgow was a joint design, James is credited with the design of the Tron Church and the Assembly Rooms in ‘The Picture of Glasgow’ (1812). James signed the drawings St George’s Episcopal Chapel in York Place, Edinburgh and was also probably responsible for the adjoining manse.

In 1769 James succeeded his brother as Architect to the King’s Works when Robert was elected MP for Kinross. James continued in this post until it was abolished in 1782.

In the 1770s James acquired an estate in Essex. He published a book on agriculture which was a compilation of writings by other authors. It was not at the time considered to be a particularly useful book. He also planned a treatise on architecture but this was never completed. He invented what he called the ‘Britannic Order’ and a sketch by him for a ‘Chapiteau Ecossais’ survives. Three of James’ architectural sketch books are in the Clerk of Penicuik archive at Penicuik House.

James Adam died in London on 20 October 1794.

Publications:

'Practical Essays on Agriculture' (1789)

Portrait by Allan Ramsay about 1754. (Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne). Another portrait by Pompeo Batoni executed while James Adam was in Rome is illustrated in 'Robert Adam and His Circle'.

Addresses

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

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
R & J Adam407821In year 1758In year 1794Partner

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
Westminster Abbey, monuments1750sLondonEngland
Hopetoun HouseIn year 1750AbercornWest LothianScotlandCompletion
Cumnock ChurchIn year 1753CumnockAyrshireScotland
Yester House, St Bothan's ChapelIn year 1753YesterEast LothianScotlandProbably designed Gothic facade to truncated church to serve as burial place for 4th Marquess of Tweeddale
Dumfries HouseIn year 1754Cumnock (near)AyrshireScotland
Culzean CastleIn year 1755AyrshireScotlandWas approached for commission to design a villa - scheme not carried out.
Newhall HouseIn year 1756GiffordEast LothianScotlandAlterations or additions contemplated - not carried out?
Craigiehall BridgeIn year 1757South QueensferryWest LothianScotland
Craigiehall TempleIn year 1759South QueensferryWest LothianScotland
Bowood HouseIn year 1761WiltshireEnglandMausoleum - in memory of the 1st Earl
Duff Housec. 1761BanffshireScotlandFireplace in private dining room
St Nicholas' Chapel, Monument to Sir Benjamin Keene (d.1757)In year 1762King\'s LynnNorfolkEngland
St Michael Penkevil Church, Monument to Admiral Edward Boscawen (d.1761)In year 1763CornwallEngland
Kedleston Church, Monument to Sir Nathaniel Curzon (d. 1758)In year 1763DerbyshireEngland
Mersham Church, tablet to Sir William Knatchbull (d.1763)After 1763MershamKentEngland

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
Bolton, A TThe Architecture of Robert and James Adam 1758-17941922
Fleming, JohnRobert Adam and his Circle1962
Fleming, JohnJames Adam in Naples1984Oxford , China and Italy, Writings in Honour of Harold Acton, ed. Chaney & Ritchie
Colvin, HowardA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18402008London: YUP. 4th edition
Close, Rob and Riches, AnneThe Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran2012New Haven and London: Yale University Pressp107

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
The Library of Fine Arts1831ii, nos 9-10James Adam's Italian journal published in this journal.

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
Soane Museum CollectionSoane Museum200110James Adam sketches in volume vii of Adam drawings.
Archive Penicuik House201477Architectural sketchbooks of James Adam.