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MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | GORDON, George William HamiltonBorn: 1854Died: 1906 12 31 Architect | ||
Also referred to as HAMILTON-GORDON, George William. This architect signed himself Hamilton-Gordon latterly, but otherwise is most often found as GWH Gordon or as GW Hamilton Gordon, his sister seems to have spelt her name in the latter fashion. Gordon was articled to 'Waterhouse, RA' (ARIBA nom papers 1886) in London for four years, possibly Alfred Waterhouse. He remained in Waterhouse's office as an assistant until 1882. About this date he entered into partnership with AT Taylor, ARIBA. In 1886 Gordon received the certificate granted by the RIBA to past candidates in a voluntary architectural examination and was elected an Associate member of the RIBA in the same year. In 1886 the RIBA Kalender listed the partners, Taylor and Hamilton Gordon, in offices in Moorgate Chambers, London. At some point Taylor settled in Canada where he opened a branch office and the firm of Taylor and Hamilton Gordon erected a large number of public and private buildings in Montreal and Ottawa besides a number in Britain. There is no record that Gordon visited or worked in Canada. In or around 1904 Taylor retired from practice and in May 1904 Gordon was appointed Director of Public Works for the Orange River Colony in South Africa with headquarters in Bloemfontein. He was elected a Fellow of the RIBA in 1906 and died in Bloemfontein on 31 December from the effects of severe dysentery. His obituary which appeared in The Friend (Jan 3, 1907:5) noted that he was the son of Canon Gordon, chaplain to Queen Victoria, and the grandson of the Earl of Aberdeen who had been Prime Minister of England during the Crimean War. The obituary also mentioned that GWH Gordon had held a high official position in Salisbury, England and that he had died from an old-standing internal complaint. No mention of his previous architectural experience was made. His sister, Miss Hamilton Gordon, was living at The Close, Salisbury, England at the time of her brother's death. There is also a listing of this practitioner on the Dictionary of Scottish Architects and the Dictionary of Architects in Canada. ARIBA Lon 1886; FRIBA 1906. (ARIBA nom papers vol 9 (1881-88) no 101; CSL, ORC 1905-6:22; CSL, ORC 1907:27; Hill 1985; OFSAD CS 4108/06; Picton-Seymour 1977; RIBA Kals 1886,1904-5; SAAE&S Jnl Dec 1906:49; The Friend Jan 3 1907:5) All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. Books citing GORDON
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