Alexander McGill
Encyclopedia
Alexander McGill was a Scottish
mason and architect
, who worked in partnership with fellow architect James Smith
. His work was influenced by that of Sir William Bruce
, and some of his designs later appeared in William Adam's Vitruvius Scoticus.
The son of George McGill, a mason in Arbirlot
, Angus
, he was apprenticed in June 1697 to Alexander Nisbet, a mason in Edinburgh
. By 1710 he had been admitted into the mason's lodge, and he is known to have visited London on at least one occasion.
From 1699 McGill was involved on work at Kellie Castle, Angus, in association with Alexander Edward
, and from 1700 with Smith at Yester House
in East Lothian. At the House of Nairn, McGill completed William Bruce's design after the latter's death.
His own designs include those of Donibristle House in Fife, Blair Drummond
(1715-17), which was demolished in 1870, and a town house for James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
in Glasgow
's Drygate (demolished 1855). McGill designed the original Mount Stuart House
on the Isle of Bute
for John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
, which was later remodelled by William Adam, before burning down, leaving only McGill's pavilions.
McGill also designed several churches, including the New Kirk in Dumfries
, and Newbattle
Parish Church (1727).
In November 1720 McGill became the first City Architect of Edinburgh, with a salary of £50 a year, at least until the pay was discontinued during lean times in 1725. He carried out various minor public works in the city, until 1729 after which no further mention of him occurs in the city records.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mason and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, who worked in partnership with fellow architect James Smith
James Smith (architect)
James Smith was a Scottish architect, who pioneered the Palladian style in Scotland. He was described by Colen Campbell, in his Vitruvius Britannicus , as "the most experienced architect of that kingdom".-Biography:...
. His work was influenced by that of Sir William Bruce
William Bruce (architect)
Sir William Bruce of Kinross, 1st Baronet was a Scottish gentleman-architect, "the effective founder of classical architecture in Scotland," as Howard Colvin observes...
, and some of his designs later appeared in William Adam's Vitruvius Scoticus.
The son of George McGill, a mason in Arbirlot
Arbirlot
Arbirlot is a village in a rural parish of the same name in Angus, Scotland. The current name is a contraction of Aberelliot - mouth of the Elliot. It is situated west of Arbroath. The main village settlement is on the Elliot Water, 2.5 miles from Arbroath. There is a Church of Scotland church and...
, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, he was apprenticed in June 1697 to Alexander Nisbet, a mason in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. By 1710 he had been admitted into the mason's lodge, and he is known to have visited London on at least one occasion.
From 1699 McGill was involved on work at Kellie Castle, Angus, in association with Alexander Edward
Alexander Edward
Alexander Edward was a Scottish Episcopalian clergyman, who later became a draughtsman, architect and landscape designer...
, and from 1700 with Smith at Yester House
Yester House
Yester House is an early 18th-century mansion near Gifford in East Lothian, Scotland. It was the home of the Hay family, later Marquesses of Tweeddale, from the 15th century until the 1970s. Construction of the present house began in 1699, and continued well into the 18th century in a series of...
in East Lothian. At the House of Nairn, McGill completed William Bruce's design after the latter's death.
His own designs include those of Donibristle House in Fife, Blair Drummond
Blair Drummond
Blair Drummond is a small rural community near Stirling in Scotland, predominantly located along the A84 road.-Description:...
(1715-17), which was demolished in 1870, and a town house for James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Duke and 4th Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish aristocratic statesman in the early eighteenth century....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
's Drygate (demolished 1855). McGill designed the original Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart House on the east coast of the Isle of Bute, Scotland is a Neo-Gothic country house with extensive gardens. Mount Stuart was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson for the 3rd Marquess of Bute in the late 1870s, to replace an earlier house by Alexander McGill, which burnt down in...
on the Isle of Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
for John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute KG, PC , styled Lord Mount Stuart before 1723, was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain under George III, and was arguably the last important favourite in British politics...
, which was later remodelled by William Adam, before burning down, leaving only McGill's pavilions.
McGill also designed several churches, including the New Kirk in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
, and Newbattle
Newbattle
Newbattle is a village in Midlothian, in the ancient Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Andrews, about seven miles from Edinburgh. There was an abbey there founded about 1140, being the second of the six Cistercian Monasteries established by King David I of Scotland.-Newbattle Abbey:Newbattle Abbey was...
Parish Church (1727).
In November 1720 McGill became the first City Architect of Edinburgh, with a salary of £50 a year, at least until the pay was discontinued during lean times in 1725. He carried out various minor public works in the city, until 1729 after which no further mention of him occurs in the city records.