Citizendia
Your Ad Here

For other persons named William Adam, see William Adam (disambiguation). William Adam my refer to William Adam (architect (1689–1748 Scottish architect mason and entrepreneur William Adam (MP (1751–1839
William Adam

Portrait by William Aikman, 1727
Personal information
Name William Adam
Nationality Scottish
Birth date October 1689
Birth place Linktown of Abbotshall
(now Kirkcaldy), Fife
Date of death June 24, 1748
Work
Significant buildings Hopetoun House
Mavisbank
Arniston
Duff House
Significant projects Inveraray Castle

William Adam (1689 – June 24, 1748) was a Scottish architect, mason, and entrepreneur. William Aikman ( 24 October 1682 &mdash 7 June 1731) was a Scottish portrait- painter. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Kirkcaldy (kɪrˈkɔːdi Cathair Chaladain) is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Fife ( Gaelic: Fìobha) is a Council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1748 ( MDCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun (later the Marquess of Linlithgow) Duff House is a Georgian house in Banff, Scotland. Within the Deveron Valley lies Duff House designed by William Adam, built between 1735 and 1740 Inveraray Castle ( Gaelic Caisteal Inbhir Aora kaʃd̊ʲəɫ̪ iɲɪɾʲˈɯːɾə is a Castle in western Scotland. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 1748 ( MDCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. An architect is a licensed individual who leads a design team in the Planning and Design of buildings and participates in oversight of Building Construction The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of Civilization - creating Buildings structures and Sculpture using stone from the earth An entrepreneur is a person who has possession over a company enterprise, or Venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome He was the foremost architect of his time in Scotland,[1][2] designing and building numerous country houses and public buildings, and often acting as contractor as well as architect. An independent contractor is a Natural person, Business or Corporation which provides goods or services to another entity under terms Among his best known works are Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, and Duff House in Banff. Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun (later the Marquess of Linlithgow) Duff House is a Georgian house in Banff, Scotland. Within the Deveron Valley lies Duff House designed by William Adam, built between 1735 and 1740 Banff ( Gaelic Banbh) and Macduff (Gaelic MacDhuibh) are neighbouring towns situated on Banff Bay, both of which are former His individual, exuberant style built on the Palladian style, but with Baroque details inspired by Vanbrugh and Continental architecture. Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical Sir John Vanbrugh (pronounced "Van'-bru" (24 January 1664? – 26 March 1726 was an English Architect and Dramatist, perhaps best known

In the 18th century, Adam was considered Scotland's "Universal Architect". [3] However, since the early 20th century, architectural critics have taken a more measured view, Colin McWilliam for instance finding the quality of his work "varied to an extreme degree". Colin McWilliam (1928–1989 was an Anglo-Scottish Architecture academic and author [1] As well as being an architect, Adam was involved in several industrial ventures and improvement schemes, including coal mining, salt panning, stone quarries and mills. In the United States and the United Kingdom virtually all domestic salt is obtained by solution mining of underground salt formations From 1731 he built up his own estate in Kinross-shire, which he named Blair Adam. Kinross-shire, officially the County of Kinross, was a county of Scotland. He was the father of three architects; John, Robert and James, the last two the developers of the "Adam style". John Adam ( 5 March 1721 &ndash 25 June 1792) was a Scottish Architect. Robert Adam ( 3 July 1728 &ndash 3 March 1792) was a Scottish neoclassical Architect, Interior designer James Adam ( 21 July 1732 &ndash 20 October 1794) was a Scottish Architect and Furniture designer, but The Adam style (or Adamesque) is a style of neoclassical Architecture and design as practised by Scottish architect Robert Adam (

Contents

Biography

Early life

William Adam was born in Linktown of Abbotshall, now a neighbourhood of Kirkcaldy, Fife, and was baptised on October 24, 1689. Kirkcaldy (kɪrˈkɔːdi Cathair Chaladain) is a town and former Royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. Fife ( Gaelic: Fìobha) is a Council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat [4] He was the only surviving child of John Adam (d. c. 1710), a mason, and Helen Cranstoun, daughter of William Cranstoun, 3rd Lord Cranstoun. William Cranstoun 3rd Lord Cranstoun, (born before 1620 a renowned Cavalier, succeeded his uncle John 2nd Lord Cranstoun (1570 - c1648 who had no issue His paternal grandfather was Archibald Adam, a laird in Angus. Angus ( Aonghas in Gaelic) is one of the 32 local government Council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. [4] Adam probably attended the grammar school in Kirkcaldy until 1704, when he turned 15, and thereafter learned the craft of masonry, possibly from his father. It is often suggested that Adam was apprenticed to Sir William Bruce at Kinross House, although the dates make this unlikely. Sir William Bruce of Kinross 1st Baronet ( Circa 1630 &ndash 1 January 1710 was a Scottish Gentleman - Architect, "the effective Kinross House is a late 17th century country house overlooking Loch Leven, near Kinross in central Scotland. John Fleming suggests that if Adam trained under Bruce at all, it must have been at Hopetoun House which Bruce was building from 1699–1703. Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun (later the Marquess of Linlithgow) [5] By 1717 Adam was a fully qualified member of the Kirkcaldy masons' guild,[6] and also before 1720, he travelled to France and the Low Countries, visiting country houses and viewing the canal at Ostend. The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt ||-||-||} Ostend  (  Oostende, French and German Ostende) is a Belgian City and municipality located in the Flemish [6]

In 1714, Adam entered into a partnership with William Robertson of Gladney, a local laird, to set up a brickworks at Linktown. A Brickworks also known as a brick factory is a factory for the manufacturing of Bricks, from Clay or Shale. The venture was successful, and Adam has been credited with introducing the manufacture of Dutch pantiles into Scotland. The name pantiles originally referred to a form of Tile used in paving and (more often Roofing Today the name is also used to refer to an area in the town [7] On May 30, 1716, Adam married Robertson's daughter Mary, and the couple moved into his home, Gladney House, at Abbotshall. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1716 ( MDCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a [8]

East front of Hopetoun House, designed and built by William Adam over a period of over 20 years
East front of Hopetoun House, designed and built by William Adam over a period of over 20 years

Rise to fame

It is not known how William Adam became a successful architect from these beginnings, but by 1721 he was engaged on major projects at Floors Castle, where he executed a design by Vanbrugh, and designing extensions to Hopetoun House. Floors Castle in Kelso, Scotland is the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe. Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun (later the Marquess of Linlithgow) John Gifford links Adam's rise with the retirement of James Smith, the most prominent architect of the early 18th century, who was in his 70s by this time. James Smith (c 1645 – 1731 was a Scottish Architect, who pioneered the Palladian style in Scotland [9] Like Smith, Adam was a trained mason, had social connections through his family, and had the financial backing of successful business ventures. [9]

However, unlike the Episcopalians Smith and Bruce, Adam was a Presbyterian Whig, in a time of Whig domination of the British government. The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The Whigs (with the Tories) are often described as one of two political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to [10] Scottish Episcopalians were associated with Jacobitism, and as such found little favour with the ruling Hanoverian regime. Jacobitism was (and to a limited extent remains the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland The House of Hanover (the Hanoverians) is a Germanic royal Dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg Sir William Bruce, for example, was imprisoned on at least three occasions between 1693 and his death in 1710, merely on account of his principles. [11] Adam's beliefs were much more acceptable, although he did manage to maintain relations with the exiled Jacobite, and amateur architect, John, Earl of Mar. John Erskine 22nd and de jure 6th Earl of Mar, KT (1675 - May 1732 Scottish Jacobite, was the eldest son of the 21st Earl of Mar [12] Adam's political stance allowed him to acquire influential patrons such as John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair, and Sir John Clerk of Penicuik,[13] who, besides being his clients, attempted to secure government positions and contracts for him. Field Marshal John Dalrymple 2nd Earl of Stair KT, PC ( July 2, 1673 - May 9, 1747) was a Scottish Sir John Clerk of Penicuik 2nd Baronet, 1676 &ndash 1755 was a Scottish Politician, Lawyer, Judge, Composer and Architect [14] For example, Sir John Clerk unsuccessfully proposed Adam for city architect under the "Town of Edinburgh Bill", which would have seen him overseeing new public works in the capital. [15] In 1727, Stair tried, again unsuccessfully, to have Adam appointed Surveyor of the King's Works in Scotland, although the following year he acquired the lesser position of Clerk and Storekeeper of the King's Works in Scotland, under the Master of Works Sir John Anstruther. The Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland was responsible for the construction repair and maintenance of royal palaces castles and other crown property in Scotland. [16] In 1730 Adam was appointed principal Mason to the Board of Ordnance in North Britain. The Board of Ordnance was a British government body responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the British Army. A North Briton (adjective North British) is a term used for a person from the north of the island of Great Britain. [16]

Colen Campbell's design for Wanstead Park
Colen Campbell's design for Wanstead Park

In 1727 Adam and Sir John Clerk travelled to London, visiting a number of country seats along the way, including Cliveden, Wilton, and Wanstead Park. Colen Campbell (1676–1729 was a pioneering Scottish architect who spent most of his career in England, and is credited as a founder of the Georgian style Location Cliveden (pronounced CLIV-d'n is a Mansion in Buckinghamshire, England overlooking the River Thames owned by the Wilton House is an English country house situated at Wilton near Salisbury in Wiltshire. Wanstead Park a grade II listed park with an area of about 140 acres (57 hectares located in Wanstead, in the London Borough of Redbridge. [17] In London, Adam attempted to make further political contacts, as well as seeking out an engraver for his projected book of architectural plans, which would eventually become Vitruvius Scoticus. Also while in London, he sat to William Aikman for his portrait. William Aikman may refer to William Aikman (painter, Scottish portrait-painter William Aikman (writer, American writer and pastor [18]

Architect, entrepreneur, and laird

By 1728 Adam was firmly established as a successful architect, with numerous ongoing business concerns including coal mining, salt panning, quarrying and agricultural improvements, although that year saw the death of his partner and father-in-law William Robertson. [19] Also in that year William Adam and Alexander McGill are described as architects in the subscribers' list to James Gibbs's Book of Architecture. James Gibbs (1682-1754 was one of Britain 's most influential Architects Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised On 21 February 1728 Adam was made a burgess of Edinburgh,[20] and moved with his family to a property on the Cowgate, where he later built a large tenement. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1728 ( MDCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Burgess is an English word that originally meant a freeman of a Borough or Burgh. [21]

His business activities continued to expand. Since the commission for Hopetoun in 1721 he had leased quarries near Queensferry, which provided the stone for his building contracts. Queensferry (often referred to as South Queensferry to distinguish it from North Queensferry) originally a Royal Burgh in West Lothian is now part [22] From 1734 he leased lofts, granaries and warehouses in Leith, and leased coal mines and salt pans at Cockenzie, and later at nearby Pinkie, where he built a canal in 1742–44, to serve the mines. Cockenzie and Port Seton (The local pronunciation of the name is "Koh- kinn -ie" Scottish Gaelic: Cùl Choinnich, meaning cove of Kenneth [23] Other engineering works included an aqueduct driven through a hill at Inveresk, and in 1741, an attempt to promote a Forth and Clyde canal, a project eventually realised by others some 30 years later. Inveresk ( Gaelic: Inbhir Easg) was formerly a village and now forms the southern part of Musselburgh. The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part [24] His main concern from 1731 became Blair Crambeth, the estate in Kinross-shire, near Kelty, which he purchased that year for £8,010 Scots. Kinross-shire, officially the County of Kinross, was a county of Scotland. See Kelty (company for the manufacturer Kelty is a town located in Fife, Scotland. The pound Scots (Pund Scots was the national unit of Currency in the Kingdom of Scotland before the country entered into political and Currency union [24] Renaming the estate Blair Adam, he set about expanding and improving it, planting trees, enclosing land, and setting up coal mines. He established the village of Maryburgh to house the miners, and built a small house, although he seldom visited for any length of time. [25]

Realised designs for the south front (top) and north front of House of Dun, Angus
Realised designs for the south front (top) and north front of House of Dun, Angus

Later life

In 1741 Adam was forced to initiate legal proceedings against William, Lord Braco, to retrieve unpaid fees arising from his work at Duff House. William Duff 1st Earl Fife (1696 &ndash 30 September 1763) was a Scottish peer There was no formal contract, and client and architect disagreed on costs for carved stonework. [26] Adam sued for £5,796 12s 11⅓d, and the matter was initially resolved in his favour. However, Braco was a stubborn opponent, and dragged out the proceedings, which were not resolved until just before Adam's death. [22]

After the Jacobite rising of 1745, Adam's position as Mason to the Board of Ordnance brought him a number of large military contracts in the Highlands. The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain [10] In 1746, the position of Master Carpenter to the Board of Ordnance became vacant, and Adam was quick to put forward his son John's name for consideration, although he was unsuccessful in securing him the post. [27] His three eldest sons were all involved in the family business by 1746, James and John both leaving Edinburgh University early to join their father. [27]

William Adam succumbed to illness in late 1747, dying the following summer. He was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, where John Adam designed the family mausoleum built in 1753. Greyfriars_signjpg|thumb|right|250px|A sign at the entrance giving a brief history of the Kirkyard and its inhabitants]] Greyfriars Kirkyard is the Graveyard surrounding [10]

Architectural works

Hamilton Old Parish Church, designed by Adam in 1735
Hamilton Old Parish Church, designed by Adam in 1735

Adam used a wide variety of sources for his designs, often reminiscent of Continental Baroque, and created an inventive personal style of decoration. Hamilton Old Parish Church is a Church of Scotland parish church serving part of the Burgh of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc [17] He drew little from his Scots predecessors Bruce and Smith. [28] Rather, his most important influences were the works of John Vanbrugh and James Gibbs, whose Book of Architecture Adam subscribed to and used as inspiration throughout his career. Sir John Vanbrugh (pronounced "Van'-bru" (24 January 1664? – 26 March 1726 was an English Architect and Dramatist, perhaps best known James Gibbs (1682-1754 was one of Britain 's most influential Architects Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised [29] Several of Adam's houses have been likened to the highly fashionable Palladian designs reproduced in Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus, although the details owe more to Gibbs and Vanbrugh. PLEASE DO NOT ADD AN INFO BOX TO THIS PAGE --> Palladian architecture is a European style of Architecture derived from the designs of the Italian Colen Campbell (1676–1729 was a pioneering Scottish architect who spent most of his career in England, and is credited as a founder of the Georgian style [30] His early, unexecuted design for Dun House is interesting, as it appears to show a traditional tall Scottish tower house, complete with spiral stairs within the walls, but externally clad in neo-classical detailing; Adam clearly took some inspiration from the Scottish vernacular. A tower house is a particular type of stone structure built for defensive purposes as well as habitation. [31]

During his nearly 30-year career as an architect, Adam designed, extended or remodelled over 40 country houses, and undertook numerous public contracts. [10] He also laid out landscape garden schemes, for instance at Newliston and Taymouth Castle. Taymouth Castle is situated just north-east of the village of Kenmore Perth and Kinross in the Highlands of Scotland. [10]

Country houses

His first commission seems to have been for extensions to Hopetoun House, near Edinburgh, for Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun. Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun (later the Marquess of Linlithgow) Charles Hope 1st Earl of Hopetoun ( 1681 - 26 February 1742) was a Scottish nobleman He was the son of John Hope of Hopetoun (son of Sir James [32] Hopetoun had been built only 20 years before by Sir William Bruce, and Adam was retained to rebuild the south-east wing. These works, completed in 1725, aimed to give the east front a bold new facade, stepping forward at the ends with curved sections. According to John Fleming, "nothing so ambitious or imaginative had ever before been attempted in Scotland". [33] Over the following years, Adam would return to Hopetoun, building the south colonnade from 1726, the north wing from 1728, and finally the pavilions from 1736. These were not finished until 1742, the year of the Earl's death, and the completed scheme was finished by Adam's sons after his own death. [34] Adam also laid out the gardens, possibly to designs by Bruce, whose axial style they follow. [35]

Craigdarroch in Dumfriesshire, a small house designed by Adam in 1729, for Alexander Fergusson
Craigdarroch in Dumfriesshire, a small house designed by Adam in 1729, for Alexander Fergusson

Other early designs included Drum House, which boasted Scotland's first venetian window,[36] and Mavisbank, both near Edinburgh. "Craigdarroch An Accessory to Murder" is an expansion set for the Board game Kill Doctor Lucky Craigdarroch is the name of a PLEASE DO NOT ADD AN INFO BOX TO THIS PAGE --> Palladian architecture is a European style of Architecture derived from the designs of the Italian Mavisbank was a collaboration between Adam and the owner, amateur architect Sir John Clerk of Penicuik. Sir John Clerk of Penicuik 2nd Baronet, 1676 &ndash 1755 was a Scottish Politician, Lawyer, Judge, Composer and Architect The latter claimed much of the credit, and certainly criticized some of Adam's suggestions, although evidence suggests Adam got his way on a number of points. [37] As at Hopetoun, here Adam enjoyed an unusually close relationship with his client, despite their differences of opinion. [38] His most ambitious early work was the baroque, Vanbrugh-inspired house at Arniston, near Gorebridge. Gorebridge is an old mining town in Midlothian, Scotland.Gorebridge gets its name from the river "Gore" of which a Bridge was once over Built for Robert Dundas, a lawyer and politician linked to the Earl of Stair, Arniston includes extensive grounds laid out by Adam, with a parterre and cascade, and a main avenue centred on Arthur's Seat to the north. Robert Dundas Lord Arniston, the elder (1685 &ndash 1753 was a Scottish judge A parterre is a formal garden construction on a level surface consisting of planting beds edged in stone or tightly clipped hedging, and gravel paths arranged to form Arthur's Seat is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, a remarkably wild piece of highland landscape in the centre of the city of [37] The stucco work to the hall at Arniston is one of Adam's finest Vanbrughian interiors. Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water [39]

Duff House, "a medieval castle in baroque dress"
Duff House, "a medieval castle in baroque dress"

Duff House, Adam's major work of the 1730s, demonstrates his accretion of local and foreign influences, presenting itself as "a medieval castle in baroque dress". Duff House is a Georgian house in Banff, Scotland. Within the Deveron Valley lies Duff House designed by William Adam, built between 1735 and 1740 [40] Built between 1735 and 1739, Adam acted as contractor and architect to William, Lord Braco. William Duff 1st Earl Fife (1696 &ndash 30 September 1763) was a Scottish peer James Gibbs had recently built another house for Lord Braco, but he declined the commission for Duff, recommending Adam for the job. [26] The main facade of Duff House is remarkable for its height, and with the tall corner towers the impression is of a highly vertical house. This style is related to the designs produced by the exiled Jacobite Earl of Mar, an amateur architect who collaborated with Adam at the House of Dun. John Erskine 22nd and de jure 6th Earl of Mar, KT (1675 - May 1732 Scottish Jacobite, was the eldest son of the 21st Earl of Mar House of Dun, together with the adjacent Montrose Basin Nature reserve, is a National Trust for Scotland property in Angus, Scotland [41] Charles McKean compares Duff to the 17th century Drumlanrig Castle, and places it within the Scottish architectural tradition. Drumlanrig Castle is a large country house near to Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway in South-West Scotland. Like Drumlanrig, and Heriot's Hospital (1620s-1690s) in Edinburgh before it, Duff House has a double-pile block flanked by taller square corner towers. George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary School on Lauriston Place in Edinburgh, Scotland, with [42] The "baroque dress" at Duff derives from Vanbrugh, and particularly Eastbury Park (1724-38) in Dorset. Dorset ( (or archaically, Dorsetshire) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast [40] Designs for pavilions and quadrant wings were never executed due to Lord Braco's dispute with Adam. Braco never occupied or fitted out the house for the same reason. [26]

Chatelherault, the Duke of Hamilton's hunting lodge, 1731–43
Chatelherault, the Duke of Hamilton's hunting lodge, 1731–43

Adam's other houses of the 1730s include House of Dun in Angus, Tinwald in Dumfriesshire, Lawyers House in Perthshire, and Haddo House in Aberdeenshire. House of Dun, together with the adjacent Montrose Basin Nature reserve, is a National Trust for Scotland property in Angus, Scotland Haddo House is a Scottish Stately home located approximately 20 miles north of Aberdeen ( Chatelherault, the Duke of Hamilton's "Dogg Kennel" and hunting lodge near Hamilton, was completed in 1743. Chatelherault Country Park is a Country park in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Dukedom of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1643 the holder is the premier peer of Scotland. Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west- Central Lowlands of Scotland. [10] His redecoration of the Duke's apartment in Holyroodhouse was Adam's most important interior design commission. The Palace of Holyroodhouse, or informally Holyrood Palace, founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence [43] In 1742 Adam extended Taymouth Castle and laid out gardens, although his work was demolished to make way for the present building in the 19th century. Taymouth Castle is situated just north-east of the village of Kenmore Perth and Kinross in the Highlands of Scotland. [10]

After 1740, Adam built only two houses, at Cumbernauld for the Earl of Wigton, and Cally House for Alexander Murray, which was not complete until 1763. The title of Earl of Wigtown (or Wigton or Wigtoun) was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. [44] From 1746, Adam was acting as "Intendant General" and contractor, overseeing the building of Inveraray Castle to a Gothic design by Roger Morris. Inveraray Castle ( Gaelic Caisteal Inbhir Aora kaʃd̊ʲəɫ̪ iɲɪɾʲˈɯːɾə is a Castle in western Scotland. The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement which began His role was to correspond with the architect on behalf of the client, Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, and Adam also offered Morris his own advice on detail design. Archibald Campbell 3rd Duke of Argyll 1st Earl of Ilay (June 1682&ndash April 15, 1761) was a Scottish Nobleman, Politician [45] He also provided an early draft for the layout of the new town at Inveraray. Inveraray ( Inbhir Aora in Gaelic) is a town and former Royal Burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, located on the western shore [46] His last architectural work was for Lord Lovat in 1744, for a new house at Castle Dounie. Simon Fraser Lord Lovat (c 1667 &ndash April 9, 1747, London) Scottish Jacobite, chief of Clan Fraser, was famous for his The stone was supplied, but construction never started as Lord Lovat was "out" in the Jacobite rising of 1745, and his property was sacked by government troops. The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain [47]

Public buildings

William Adam's Tay Bridge at Aberfeldy
William Adam's Tay Bridge at Aberfeldy

Adam's first public building commissions were in Aberdeen, where he built the town house, or town hall, from 1729–30, since demolished, and Robert Gordon's Hospital from 1730–32, now an independent school. The Tay ( Gaelic: Tatha) is a river starting in the Highlands and flowing down into the centre of Scotland through Perth and Aberdeen ( pronounced; Aiberdeen Obar Dheathain is Scotland 's third most populous city and one of Scotland's 32 local government council Robert Gordon's College (known by the acronym RGC) is a private Co-educational day school in Aberdeen, Scotland. [10] The original Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Infirmary Street was an imposing building designed by Adam in 1738, although based on a standard Ordnance Board barrack block. The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, often colloquially referred to as Edinburgh Royal Infirmary or ERI, established in 1729 is the oldest Voluntary hospital [48] One of the first infirmaries in the world, it was founded by physician Alexander Monro, and was partly demolished in 1884. Three generations of distinguished Scots Physicians &mdash grandfather father and son &mdash were all called Alexander Monro. Also in Edinburgh, Adam built George Watson's Hospital from 1738–41, which in the 19th century was rebuilt by David Bryce to serve as the new Royal Infirmary. David Bryce (1803-1876 was a Scottish architect Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William [10] In 1745, work was completed on William Adam's "New Library" for the University of Glasgow, also since demolished. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews [10] Adam's town house for Dundee has also been demolished; that of Haddington remains but is much altered. Dundee (Dùn Dèagh is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and fully named as Dundee City, one of Scotland's 32 local government council Haddington is a town and former Royal Burgh in East Lothian, Scotland [10] Adam built only one church, Hamilton Old Parish Church, in 1733 while working on nearby Chatelherault. Hamilton Old Parish Church is a Church of Scotland parish church serving part of the Burgh of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, Scotland. [10]

The last Jacobite rising occurred in 1745, when "Bonnie Prince Charlie" attempted to seize the British throne, aided by rebellious Scottish Highlanders. The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings rebellions and wars in the kingdoms of England, Kingdom of Scotland (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain For the US politician see Charles E Stuart For "Betty Burke" see The 'Forty-Five' below In the aftermath of this unsuccessful coup, the Highlands were extensively militarised by the government, and Adam's Ordnance Board work consequently multiplied. The Scottish Highlands ( Scottish Gaelic: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Scots: Hielans) include the rugged and Mountainous He and his sons carried out works at Fort Augustus, Fort William, Carlisle, and the castles of Dumbarton, Stirling, Edinburgh, Blackness, and Duart. Invergarryrailwayjpg|300px|thumb|Section of dismantled railway south of Fort Augustus]] Fort Augustus ( Ordnance Survey) is a settlement in the Scottish Highlands Fort William ( Scottish Gaelic: An Gearasdan, "The Garrison" is the largest town in the highlands of Scotland, now that Inverness Carlisle (pronounced CARLYLE(emphasis on the first syllable is a City in northern England the largest settlement in Cumbria. Dumbarton Castle ( Gaelic Dùn Breatainn d̪̊unˈb̊ɾʲɛhd̪̊ɪɲ ( has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Great Britain. For ships named after the castle see Stirling Castle (disambiguation Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest Edinburgh Castle is an ancient Stronghold which dominates the sky-line of the Blackness Castle is a 15th century fortress near the village of Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. Duart Castle ( Caisteal Dhubhairt, in Gaelic is a castle on the west coast of Scotland, located on the Isle of Mull, within the council [49] He was engaged in 1747 to provide the mason work and brickwork for Fort George near Inverness, although the project only began shortly before Adam's death. See also Fort George disambiguation page Fort George, Ardersier, Highland, Scotland, is a large 18th century Inverness (Inbhir Nis iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ is a city in northern Scotland. [50] Every summer until 1760, one of his sons spent the summer at Fort George, supervising the works under Colonel Skinner, the chief engineer for North Britain. [49]

Robert Gordon's Hospital, Aberdeen, now Robert Gordon's College
Robert Gordon's Hospital, Aberdeen, now Robert Gordon's College

Vitruvius Scoticus

From the 1720s Adam planned to publish a book of architectural drawings of Scottish houses, including his own work and that of others. Robert Gordon's College (known by the acronym RGC) is a private Co-educational day school in Aberdeen, Scotland. His Vitruvius Scoticus was initiated and named in response to Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus. Colen Campbell (1676–1729 was a pioneering Scottish architect who spent most of his career in England, and is credited as a founder of the Georgian style He had some engravings carried out during his 1727 trip to London, and had begun to collect subscriptions. [14] Further engraving were done in Edinburgh in the 1730s by Richard Cooper. [22] The project then stalled, possibly due to the lack of subscriptions (only 150 were collected, compared to over 700 for Vitruvius Britannicus), although it may have been revived around the time of Adam's death. In 1766 John Adam attempted to restart the project and collect fresh subscriptions, although nothing came of this. The book was finally published in 1812 by John's son William, and contained 160 plates, including 100 of Adam's own designs. William Adam, KC ( 2 August 1751 &ndash 17 February 1839) was a Scottish Member of Parliament (MP in the British Parliament [10]

Legacy

William Adam's dominant position in Scottish architecture is reinforced by his lack of contemporaries. Colin McWilliam, in The Buildings of Scotland: Lothian, wondered "whether Scottish architecture at this period. . . would have achieved very much without him. "[1]

Adam's death coincided with the final defeat of the Jacobite threat in 1746, and the advance of the Scottish Enlightenment, which resulted in new styles of building becoming popular. The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments The development of Neoclassicism in the late 18th century was paralleled by a revival of the "castle" form of house, which would lead to the Scottish baronial style. Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and The Scottish Baronial style is part of the Gothic revival in architectural styles drawing on stylistic elements and forms from Castles Tower houses [51] Neither idiom however, owed much to the work of William Adam. As a practical man rather than a theorist, Adam never developed a strong enough style to exert a direct influence on the course of building design.

His main bequest to architectural history was his three architect sons, and in particular Robert Adam, whose success as developer of the "Adam Style" far outran that of his father. Although Robert formed his own style through lengthy study in Rome, John Fleming detects traces of his father's influence on all three of the brothers' work, and suggests that the Adam principle of "movement" in architecture was partly inspired by William's admiration for Vanbrugh. More concretely, Fleming notes that working with their father gave the brothers a solid grounding in the technical aspects of architecture, and introduced them to a set of clients which they might never otherwise have had access to. [52]

Critical appreciation

Although his contemporaries acclaimed Adam's "genius for architecture",[53] recent architectural historians have found his work of more variable quality. In the 18th and 19th centuries, he was accepted as Scotland's "Universal Architect", and at the end of the 19th century, MacGibbon and Ross suggested in The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland that William was "at least" the equal in talent of his son Robert. David MacGibbon ( 2 April 1831 - 20 February 1902) and Thomas Ross ( 10 November 1839 - 4 December [54]

In the 20th century, a more critical view of Adam's work was taken. For example, Ian Hannah in The Story of Scotland in Stone (1934) found Adam to be "a rather ordinary classical architect". Dr Ian Campbell Hannah ( 16 December 1874 &ndash 7 July 1944) was a British academic writer and Conservative Party politician [55] Arthur T. Bolton, in the introduction to his definitive work on Robert and James Adam (1922), dismissed the father's work as "heavy and ordinary", and a mere "compilation of ideas. . . from Vanbrugh and Gibbs to Kent". [56] John Fleming lamented his "ad hoc improvisation from source books, improperly digested",[57] and decided that he "cannot be allowed great distinction as an architect". [58] John Summerson disregards Adam's work, in Architecture in Britain, 1530-1830 (1953), as it does not fit into the English Palladian orthodoxy,[59] although John Dunbar suggests that "he could express himself convincingly enough in that idiom",[60] for instance at Haddo House. Sir John Newenham Summerson CH CBE (1904-1992 was one of the leading English architectural historians of the 20th century [60] Dunbar found Adam's work "as remarkable for its eclecticism as for its unevenness of quality", and he went on to stress William Adam's "robustness and directness", and found these "appropriate to the artistic climate of North Britain". [60] Gifford also stresses Adam's Scottish context, pointing out that Scotland was in many ways a foreign country during his working life, and indeed was a separate country to England until 1707. Adam should, he argues, be seen not as a provincial British architect, but as "the architect of Scotland". [61]

John Fleming and Colin McWilliam are in agreement that Adam was at his best as a collaborator. Fleming's comment that Adam "was at his best when guided by a man of taste who knew his own mind",[62] is echoed by McWilliam, who suggests that William Adam "always did his best, but did his best architecture. . . when he was in touch not only with his source books, but with other lively minds". [1]

Family

William Adam and Mary Robertson had ten surviving children:

The birth dates of their five younger daughters are not recorded. [27] In addition another son, named William, and two daughters died in infancy. [20]

After William Adam's death, John inherited the family business, and immediately took his brothers Robert and James into partnership, which would last until the late 1750s when Robert established himelf in London. William Adam's obituary in the Caledonian Mercury noted that "it is fortunate he has left behind him some promising young men to carry on what he has so happily begun". [63] John Adam passed Blair Adam on to his own son, lawyer and politician William Adam KC, whose descendants continue to own the estate, and have included several notable politicians, soldiers and civil servants. William Adam, KC ( 2 August 1751 &ndash 17 February 1839) was a Scottish Member of Parliament (MP in the British Parliament [64]

References

  1. ^ a b c d McWilliam, p. 57
  2. ^ Glendinning, et al. (1999) p. 48
  3. ^ John Clerk of Eldin first used the term "Universal Architect" to describe Adam, in his unpublished Life of Robert Adam. Sir John Clerk ( 10 December 1728 &ndash 10 May 1812) known as John Clerk of Eldin, was the seventh son of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik Gifford (1990) p. 1
  4. ^ a b Gifford (1989), pp. 68 & 75
  5. ^ Kinross was under construction from 1686. Fleming, pp. 6–7
  6. ^ a b Gifford (1989), p. 72
  7. ^ Gifford (1989), pp. 73–74
  8. ^ Gifford (1989), p. 75
  9. ^ a b Gifford (1989), pp. 76–77
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Colvin, pp. 56–59
  11. ^ Fenwick, p. 73–78
  12. ^ Glendinning & McKechnie (2004), p. 103
  13. ^ Gifford (1989), pp. 80–81
  14. ^ a b Gifford (1989), p. 106
  15. ^ Fleming, p. 34
  16. ^ a b Gifford (1989), p. 107
  17. ^ a b Friedman, p. 37
  18. ^ Gifford (1989), p. 108
  19. ^ Gifford (1989), pp. 109–110
  20. ^ a b Gifford (1989), p. 110
  21. ^ Gifford (1989), p. 176
  22. ^ a b c Gifford (1989), p. 179
  23. ^ Gifford (1989), pp. 176 & 178
  24. ^ a b Fleming, p. 52
  25. ^ Gifford (1989), pp. 176–178. Blair Adam remains the home of the Adam family today.
  26. ^ a b c Donaldson, Peter R. (1996). "Conservation Case Study: The Duff House Project". Architectural Heritage Vol. VI: pp. 33-48.  
  27. ^ a b c Gifford (1989), p. 183
  28. ^ Fleming, p. 36
  29. ^ Friedman, p. 38
  30. ^ Gifford (1989), passim
  31. ^ Fleming, p. 35
  32. ^ The contract was signed on 17 January 1721. Gifford, p. 76
  33. ^ Fleming, p. 47
  34. ^ Gifford (1989), pp. 88, 124, 127
  35. ^ Gifford (1989), p. 89
  36. ^ Fleming, p. 49
  37. ^ a b Gifford (1989), pp. 90–94
  38. ^ Fleming, p. 44
  39. ^ Fleming, p. 51
  40. ^ a b Dunbar, p. 106
  41. ^ Glendinning and McKechnie (2004), p. 103
  42. ^ McKean, p. 258
  43. ^ Fleming, p. 59
  44. ^ Fleming, p. 56
  45. ^ Fleming, p. 65
  46. ^ Walker, pp. 305 & 313
  47. ^ Fleming, pp. 63–64
  48. ^ Fleming, p. 62
  49. ^ a b Fleming, p. 64
  50. ^ Gifford (1992), p. 174
  51. ^ Glendinning & McKechnie (2004) p. 97
  52. ^ Fleming, pp. 74-75
  53. ^ William Adam's obituary in the Caledonian Mercury, cited in Gifford (1990), p. 1
  54. ^ Cited in Gifford (1990), p. 2
  55. ^ Hannah, p. 306
  56. ^ Cited in Gifford (1990), p. 3
  57. ^ Cited in Gifford (1990), p. 4
  58. ^ Fleming, p. 73
  59. ^ Cited in Gifford (1990), p. 4
  60. ^ a b c Dunbar, p. 104
  61. ^ Gifford (1989), p. 9
  62. ^ Fleming, p. 72
  63. ^ Cited in Fleming, p. 66
  64. ^ "Adam, of Blair Adam", in Burke's Landed Gentry of Scotland (PDF) pp. 3–4. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius

See also

Further reading

External links

Persondata
NAME Adam, William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Architect
DATE OF BIRTH October 1689
PLACE OF BIRTH Linktown of Abbotshall
DATE OF DEATH June 24, 1748
PLACE OF DEATH
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic