John Adam (5 March 1721 – 25
June 1792) was a Scottish architect. Born in Linktown of Abbotshall, now part of Kirkcaldy,
Fife, he was the eldest son of architect and entrepreneur William Adam. 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.
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. John also became laird of Blair Adam, the estate in Kinross-shire which his father had built up. Finally, John inherited his father's position as Master Mason
to the Board of Ordnance in North Britain.
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 Jacobite Rising of 1745. These
included the building of Fort George near Inverness, to the designs of military engineer Colonel Skinner.
The brothers also continued to execute their late father's designs, including the pavilions and interiors of Hopetoun House. Their first major new commission came in 1754 from William
Dalrymple, Earl of Dumfries. The new Dumfries
House in 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 his Grand Tour to 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 the City
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 the Carron
Iron Works. He supplied his London-based brothers with capital from the Blair Adam estate, at least until the collapse of
Fairholm's Bank in 1764 left him out of pocket. Further losses occurred after the failure of Robert's Adelphi building speculation in 1772, and John was forced to mortgage Blair Adam.
Upon his death in 1792, he was succeeded as laird of Blair Adam by his only surviving son, William Adam.
References
- Colvin, Howard (1978) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, John Murray
- Fleming, John (1962) Robert Adam and his Circle ISBN 0-7195-0000-1
External links
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