Adam, William

About the artist

Name

Adam, William

Biography

William Adam was baptized on 24 October 1689 at Abbotshall church in Kirkcaldy. He was the only surviving child of John Adam, a builder and merchant, and his wife, Helen, daughter of the third Lord Cranstoun. In 1716, William Adam married Mary Robertson (1699–1761), daughter of William Robertson of Gladney, minister of Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh. They had four sons and six daughters who survived to adulthood. In 1728 Adam moved to Edinburgh with his family.

William Adam inherited and expanded his father's business ventures and was a builder as well as an architect. He owned a brickworks in Kirkcaldy, as well as other supply industries including, highways, timber mills and a marble works. He even acquired the lease at Craigleith Quarry so as to guarantee the supply of stone for the building projects for which he acted as contractor.

William Adam's Vitruvius Scoticus publication was planned by Adam to contain plates of his own work and his architectural predecessors in Scotland. However, the book was only finally published by his grandson William, in 1811, long after Adam's death.

William Adam is probably best known for his work on large stately homes such as Hopetoun House, Mavisbank House for Sir John Clerk, and Duff House in Banffshire. However, he was later commissioned to work on several large public buildings across Scotland and including in Edinburgh, the Orphans' Hospital, George Watson's Hospital and the Royal Infirmary.

William Adam died in Edinburgh on 24 June 1748. His eldest son, John, took over his business interests in Scotland, whilst Robert and James would continue the architectural legacy.

Read more about the Adam family architects and their achievements on the Dictionary of Scottish Architects.

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