John Ross McKay explained

John Ross McKay RIBA (1884 - 1962) was a 20th-century Scottish architect. He was also President of the Clan MacKay Society. He gives his name to the J R McKay Medal for architectural students.[1]

His work covers a diverse range: from villas to major factories and department stores. He was also responsible for several cinemas and public houses.

Life

He was born in Edinburgh on 11 June 1884 the son of William McKay and his wife Elizabeth Anderson.[2] He was apprenticed as an architect in 1899 also studying at Edinburgh School of Applied Art and Heriot-Watt College. In 1903 he joined the office of Francis William Deas and, after gaining his Diploma in 1905, in 1906 he became a junior architect in the office of Robert Lorimer at 49 Queen Street, Edinburgh.[3]

He served in the First World War from 1917 to 1919: both at VIII Corps headquarters and in the Royal Scots Fusiliers (Labour Corps) as a lieutenant in France but mainly involved in military mapping and creating panoramas for planning purposes. In 1920 he returned to Lorimer's office as "chief assistant". His employment with Lorimer ended somewhat abruptly when he informed Lorimer that he had been invited to stay at Hunterston House, as a guest of his former commanding officer, General Aylmer Hunter-Weston. Lorimer had an issue with this as the general was a current client, and he felt an assistant should not attend where he himself had not been invited. Lorimer failed to acknowledge that this was not the reason for invitation. McKay ignored Lorimer's warnings and attended the function. Lorimer fired him on his return.[4]

Soon after leaving Lorimer he went into partnership with James Smith Richardson in his office at 4 Melville Street. However, Richardson more or less left all architectural work to McKay, as he had been appointed a full time Inspector for the Ancient Monuments Directorate.[4]

From 1930 McKay was Vice President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association. In the Second World War, other than designing some emergency hospitals, and military HQs all work dried up. In 1942 Richardson officially left the partnership and Mckay was instead joined by Walker Todd, but this was short-lived as Walker Todd died in 1944.[4]

Suffering from mental illness, his final years were spent in Craig House, Edinburgh, a private asylum.[5] He died there on 2 August 1962.[2]

Family

He was married to Dora Kennedy.

Main projects

Gallery

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 J R McKay Student Award — Edinburgh Architectural Association (EAA) | Chapter of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Edinburgh - Fife - Lothians - Scottish Borders. Edinburgh Architectural Association.
  2. Web site: John Ross McKay - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951. sculpture.gla.ac.uk.
  3. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1906
  4. Dictionary of Scottish Architects: J R McKay
  5. Web site: Craighouse, Edinburgh: former private asylum, future housing development. Harriet. Richardson. September 13, 2015.

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