Andrew Taylor

Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor, JP, RCA, FSA, FRIBA (13 October 1850 – 5 December 1937) was a British architect and councillor. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and practised architecture in Scotland and London before emigrating to Montreal, Quebec, in 1883, where he designed many of the buildings of McGill University. He retired from architecture in 1904 and returned to London, where he served on London County Council from 1908 to 1926. He was knighted for his political services in 1926.

Biography Taylor was the son of James Taylor, a publisher, and Agnes Drummond, the sister of Sir George Drummond, of Montreal. In 1864 he began his architectural training as an articled apprentice to Pilkington & Bell in Edinburgh, staying for five years. He worked for a year as architect in the Duke of Roxburghe's estate office, and then moved to Aberdeen where he worked in the office of William Smith.

Architectural practice in London

He left Scotland for London in 1872, taking a position at the office of Joseph Clarke, and studying at the Royal Academy Schools and University College London. His essay on London's 16th-century architecture won a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) silver medal in 1874. In 1877 he travelled to Italy and France. He joined the RIBA in 1878. An essay on the work of Sir Christopher Wren gained him a second RIBA medal in 1881. He subsequently published a book on the subject: The Towers and Steeples designed by Sir Christopher Wren, a descriptive, historical and critical essay.

When Ravenscrag, now the Allan Memorial Institute, was still the residence of Sir Hugh Allan, Taylor extended the east wing (1889), and enlarged the stables (1898). Taylor performed alterations and restoration on the Christ Church Cathedral from 1890 to 1891, and installed a memorial window for Mrs. A.C. Hooper, 1902–03.

Taylor was the architect responsible for the buildings and renovation of several buildings for the Bank of Montreal:

The Bank of Montreal in Waterloo, Ontario, formerly known as the Molson's Bank, (1914) The Bank of Montreal in Point St. Charles Branch, Wellington Street at Magdalen Street, Montreal, Quebec (1901) The Bank of Montreal in West End, Ste. Catherine Street West at Mansfield Street, Montreal (1889) The Bank of Montreal in Notre Dame Street West Seigneurs Street, Montreal (1894) The Bank of Montreal, St. Catherine Street West at Papineau Street, Montreal (1904) The Bank of Montreal, Perth, Ontario (1884) The Bank of Montreal, Stephen Avenue at Scarth Street, Calgary, Alberta (1888) The Bank of Montreal, Sydney, Nova Scotia (1901) Manager's residence for the Bank of Montreal, Grande Allee, Quebec City (1904)

Political career Taylor retired from architecture in 1904, returning to London, England. He pursued a political career as a Conservative Party municipal councillor. He was elected to London County Council on 24 October 1908, representing Hampstead, and served until 1926. From 1911 to 1937 he also served as Chair of the Architectural Education Committee and Chair of the Slade Committee at University College London. In 1926 he was knighted for his political work.

Works