William Robertson (1786 – 12 June 1841) was a Scottish architect. Born in Lonmay in Aberdeenshire, he started his career in Cullen, Moray, [1] then moved to Elgin around 1821, where he practised for the rest of his life. [2] He established himself as the foremost architect of his period north of Aberdeen, [3] described by Charles McKean as "possibly the north of Scotland's first native classical architect of substance." [4] His practice was continued by his nephews Alexander and William Reid, [1] and their partners and successors J and W Wittet. [5]
Robertson built numerous churches, for the Church of Scotland, the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and the newly emancipated Roman Catholic Church, including the Category A-listed listed St Thomas's in Keith, which he designed with Walter Lovi. [6] He also improved numerous country houses around Morayshire and Banffshire, such as Milton Brodie House, [1] and he built Aberlour House from scratch for the rich slave-owner and planter Alexander Grant. [7] [8] In 1826, he published a book, entitled A Series of Views of the Ruins of Elgin Cathedral … with ground plan and table of measurements. [1]
He died at Elgin on 12 June 1841 and is commemorated by a memorial in the graveyard at Elgin Cathedral. [1]
William Robertson (1786 – 12 June 1841) was a Scottish architect. Born in Lonmay in Aberdeenshire, he started his career in Cullen, Moray, [1] then moved to Elgin around 1821, where he practised for the rest of his life. [2] He established himself as the foremost architect of his period north of Aberdeen, [3] described by Charles McKean as "possibly the north of Scotland's first native classical architect of substance." [4] His practice was continued by his nephews Alexander and William Reid, [1] and their partners and successors J and W Wittet. [5]
Robertson built numerous churches, for the Church of Scotland, the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and the newly emancipated Roman Catholic Church, including the Category A-listed listed St Thomas's in Keith, which he designed with Walter Lovi. [6] He also improved numerous country houses around Morayshire and Banffshire, such as Milton Brodie House, [1] and he built Aberlour House from scratch for the rich slave-owner and planter Alexander Grant. [7] [8] In 1826, he published a book, entitled A Series of Views of the Ruins of Elgin Cathedral … with ground plan and table of measurements. [1]
He died at Elgin on 12 June 1841 and is commemorated by a memorial in the graveyard at Elgin Cathedral. [1]