John Adam (architect)
John Adam (5 March 1721 – 25 June 1792) was a
Life
Born in Linktown of Abbotshall, now part of Kirkcaldy, Fife, he was the eldest son of architect and entrepreneur William Adam and his wife Mary Robertson (1698–1761). His younger brothers Robert and James Adam also became architects.
The Adam family moved to Edinburgh in 1728, as William Adam's career as a designer of country houses began to take off. John attended Dalkeith Grammar School, outside the city, although he did not proceed to university as he was already being involved in the family businesses. However, the family home became a hub of the Scottish Enlightenment, with numerous Edinburgh virtuosi visiting.
It is believed his father allowed him to do some work on Montrose Mausoleum in Aberuthven, Perthshire, in 1736, for his name is in an inscription in the northern wall.[1]
During the 1740s, William was gradually handing over control to his eldest son. Upon William's death in June 1748, John took over the family businesses, which besides designing and building houses, included interests in quarrying, mining and other industries. Additionally, John inherited his father's position as Master Mason to the Board of Ordnance in North Britain. John also became Laird of Blair Adam, the estate in Kinross-shire which his father had built up. At Kinross-shire, John created a large personal library.[2]
John took his younger brother Robert into partnership, and the two profited greatly from the lucrative Board of Ordnance contracts which were had been initiated following the
The brothers also continued to execute their late father's designs, including the pavilions and interiors of
John did win a competition to design a new Royal Exchange in Edinburgh, but he was not appointed as contractor. The successful contractor then appointed another architect, who made changes to the design. However, the building, which now serves as the
On Robert's return to Britain, he established himself in London, where he was joined by the younger brothers James and William. John continued to look after the family's Scottish interests, investing in further quarrying ventures, and the
John Adam designed other houses in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, including Milton House in the
In Edinburgh he lived at Niddry's Wynd (now known as Niddry Street.)[7]
Upon his death in 1792, he was succeeded as laird of Blair Adam by his only surviving son, the politician and judge William Adam.
He is buried in his father's mausoleum in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh. It is the largest monument in the graveyard and stands just south-west of the church.
Family
He was married to Jean Ramsay of Abbotshall in Fife (d.1795).
List of architectural works
Public buildings
- Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, with his brother Robert
- Royal Society of Arts (1772–74)
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The Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh
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Royal Society of Arts (1772–74)
Garden buildings and follies
- Stables, Inveraray Castle, joint work with his brother Robert
Urban domestic work
- The Adelphi development, London (1768–1775) mostly demolished 1930s, a ceiling & fireplace are in the Victoria and Albert Museum
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The Adam Brothers' Adelphi (1768-72)
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Robert Adam ceiling from the Adelphi, now in the V&A
Country houses with major work
- Dumfries House, Ayrshire (1754–1759)
- Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire (1757–1761)
- Moffat House (1762)
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Dumfries House
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Moffat House, designed by John Adam and completed in 1762
References
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Montrose Mausoleum St. Kattan's Churchyard Aberuthven (LB5819)". Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "John Adam 1721–1792 – Book Owners Online". www.bookowners.online. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ Paul Latcham, 'Skinner, William (1699/1700–1780)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 2 Feb 2013
- ^ a b c Mowat, Ian R. M. (1992). "Adam Square: An Edinburgh Architectural First". Book of the Old Edinburgh Club. New Series Vol. 5: 93–101.
- ^ Robertson, A 2012 The rediscovery of 'Carss Castell': A medieval hall-house within, Kerse House, Grangemouth. Vernacular Building 36, pp. 41–60
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "High Street Moffat House Hotel (Category A Listed Building) (LB37928)". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ Williamson's Edinburgh Street Directory 1785
- Colvin, Howard (1978) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, John Murray
- Fleming, John (1962) Robert Adam and his Circle ISBN 0-7195-0000-1