John Adam (architect)

John Adam(5 March 1721 – 25 June 1792) was aScottisharchitect,building contractorandsupervisor.

Life

The grave of John Adam,
architect, in the Adam mausoleum,Greyfriars Kirkyard,Edinburgh

Born inLinktownof Abbotshall, now part ofKirkcaldy,Fife,he was the eldest son of architect and entrepreneurWilliam Adamand his wife Mary Robertson (1698–1761). His younger brothersRobertandJames Adamalso 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 attendedDalkeithGrammar 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 theScottish Enlightenment,with numerous Edinburghvirtuosivisiting.

It is believed his father allowed him to do some work onMontrose MausoleuminAberuthven,Perthshire,in 1736, for his name is in an inscription in the northern wall.

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 theBoard of OrdnanceinNorth Britain.John also becameLairdof Blair Adam, the estate inKinross-shirewhich his father had built up. At Kinross-shire, John created a large personal library.

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 theJacobite rising of 1745.These included the building ofFort GeorgenearInverness,to the designs of military engineerColonel Skinner.

The brothers also continued to execute their late father's designs, including the pavilions and interiors ofHopetoun House.Their first major new commission came in 1754 fromWilliam Dalrymple,Earl of Dumfries.The newDumfries Housein Ayrshire was probably mostly to the design of Robert Adam, the more talented architect of the two. Robert oversaw the construction of the house until late summer 1754, when he left on hisGrand Tourto Italy. Even when abroad, Robert continued to send home designs. John concentrated on the business side of the practice, although he was a competent, if formulaic, architect.

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 theCity Chambers,is still often attributed to John Adam.

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 theCarron Iron Works.He supplied his London-based brothers with capital from the Blair Adam estate, at least until the collapse of a stock market venture by his friend Andrew Fairholme in 1764 left him out of pocket.Further losses occurred after the failure of Robert's speculativeAdelphidevelopment in 1772, and John was forced to mortgage Blair Adam.

John Adam designed other houses in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, including Milton House in theOld Town,Hawkhill House, nearLeith Links,forLord Alemoorand Kerse Housenr.FalkirkforSir Lawrence Dundas(all now demolished). In the Annandale town ofMoffathe designed Moffat House for the Earl of Hopetoun.Among his more significant work was Adam Square, a speculative development of three houses on his own property in the city. The development, although not a true "square", represents one of the firstterracesof townhouses in Edinburgh.Construction began in 1761, and despite the financial troubles,Lord PresidentRobert Dundaswas able to move in by 1768.Adam himself also lived there until 1772, as well as having a villa atMerchiston.Adam Square was demolished in the 1870s, and the site is now occupied by Adam House, a building of theUniversity of Edinburgh.

In Edinburgh he lived at Niddry's Wynd (now known as Niddry Street.)

Upon his death in 1792, he was succeeded as laird of Blair Adam by his only surviving son, the politician and judgeWilliam Adam.

He is buried in his father's mausoleum inGreyfriars KirkyardinEdinburgh.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 inFife(d.1795).

List of architectural works

Public buildings

• Royal Exchange, Edinburgh,with his brother Robert
• Royal Society of Arts(1772–74)

• 
  The Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh
• 
  Royal Society of Arts (1772–74)

Garden buildings and follies

• Stables,Inveraray Castle,joint work with his brother Robert

Urban domestic work

• TheAdelphidevelopment, London (1768–1775) mostly demolished 1930s, a ceiling & fireplace are in theVictoria and Albert Museum

• 
  The Adam Brothers' Adelphi (1768-72)
• 
  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)

• 
  Dumfries House
• 
  Moffat House, designed by John Adam and completed in 1762

• Gordon Castle

References

• Colvin, Howard (1978)A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects,John Murray
• Fleming, John (1962)Robert Adam and his CircleISBN0-7195-0000-1

External links

• Robert Adam timeline