John Dick Peddie

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John Dick Peddie (24 February 1824 – 12 March 1891)[1] was a Scottish architect, businessman and a Liberal Party politician.

Biography

John Dick Peddie and his twin brother William were the second and third sons of James Peddie WS and Margaret Dick. The twins were educated at the University of Edinburgh, studying law, but in 1842 John was articled to the architect David Rhind.[2] His son, John More Dick Peddie (1853-1921) was also an architect.

Architect

Peddie set up his own practice in 1845, winning the competition for the United Presbyterian Synod Hall in Edinburgh (demolished), possibly through the influence of his family, who were prominent members of the United Associate Synod. Through another family connection, his cousin Benjamin Blyth, Peddie also secured work for the Caledonian Railway at their Princes Street station (demolished). He undertook study tours to central and eastern Europe, and on 21 July 1851 he married Euphemia Lockhart More. He was appointed architect to the Royal Bank of Scotland, designing several branches across Scotland in the mid-1850s. Peddie was also involved in the creation of Cockburn Street, linking Edinburgh's Royal Mile with Waverley Station, from 1851, which led him to take on his assistant Charles Kinnear as a partner from 1 January 1856.[2]

The partnership of Peddie and Kinnear was very successful, winning numerous commissions for churches and public buildings, including the municipal buildings in Aberdeen (1856) and branches of the Bank of Scotland. He was elected in 1870 as an academician of the Royal Scottish Academy, and served as its secretary for six years.[3] In 1878 his son John More Dick Peddie joined the firm, and the following year John senior retired from practice.[2]

Politics

Peddie secured the Liberal nomination for Kilmarnock in 1878, and was elected at the 1880 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kilmarnock Burghs, on a disestablishment platform.[2][4] In 1884 he introduced a private members bill on disestablishment, although it never came to a vote. In Parliament he also represented the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Peddie narrowly lost his seat in the 1885 general election, due to a split in the Liberal vote.[5] Although Gladstone asked him to consider it, he did not stand again.[5]

Grave

Peddie family grave Warriston Cemetery

He is buried in Warriston Cemetery in a small grave beside a far more noticeable red sandstone memorial to his grandfather, the Rev. James Peddie DD. Despite this very quiet monument, Peddie was the architect for the main extension of the cemetery in which he lies.

References

  1. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "K" (part 2)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "John Dick Peddie". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 
  3. ↑ Mair, Robert Henry. Debrett's illustrated House of Commons and the judicial bench 1881. London: Dean & Son. p. 184. 
  4. ↑ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 552. ISBN 0-900178-26-4. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 513. ISBN 0-900178-27-2. 

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James Harrison		 Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock Burghs
1880 – 1885 		Succeeded by
Peter Sturrock
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