Sir robert mcalpine biography
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Sir Robert McAlpine was one of the most successful entrepreneurs, ever. Here’s how he did it…
Sir Robert McAlpine, was born in 1847 in Newarthill, Scotland.
He began working in a local mine at age 10. By 17, he apprenticed as a bricklayer while still mining in the winter. In 1868, he started his own building business, later settling in Motherwell and Hamilton, North and South Lanarkshire, respectively.
In 1872, McAlpine secured his first major contract: constructing 100 miners’ cottages in Hamilton for William Smith Dixon, a local industrialist. This success enabled Robert to pursue larger projects in Lanarkshire, including railway construction and iron works.
By 1877, his workforce had grown to several hundred people, with a turnover of £100,000. Despite expanding across Scotland, building over 500 houses and 50 tenements between 1875 and 1878, the economic depression and shrinking coal sector in 1877 led to bankruptcy in May 1880. Although his partnership, McAlpine & Richmond, was bankrupt, he was still able to continue working under his own name with Richmond (the sole owner) remaining in the background. Very different times back then!
McAlpine emerged from bankruptcy in August 1881, resuming his partnership role in McAlpine & Ri
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Grace's Guide To British Industrial History
Civil engineers and building contractors, of Glasgow
of 40 Berner St, London (1972)
1869 Robert McAlpine (1847-1934) started in the building trade[1]
1872 McAlpine won his first major construction contract, to build 100 cottages for miners at Stonefield near Hamilton.
1875 He began to invest in property, building houses to let in Hamilton, Stonefield, and Motherwell.
By 1877 The firm regularly employed over one hundred men
Leased three brickworks and experimented with the use of concrete to make lintels and doorsteps.
By 1876 The firm was building walls of houses of rubble concrete blocks.
1880 The house-building ventures collapsed. Robert took his cashier, William Richmond, into partnership in his contracting business which avoided the business falling into the hands of his creditors. Robert continued nominally as an employee of the firm until he was discharged from bankruptcy in 1881.
1882 Built the largest factory in Europe, for the Singer Manufacturing Co at Kilbowie, Dunbartonshire.
1883 Dissolved the partnership with William Richmond.
1884 Won the contract to build the Barrhead to Ardrossan section of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. McAlpine brought his eldest sons, Robert junior (1
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The Loch river Uamh Viaduct on say publicly West Upland Line |
Sir Parliamentarian McAlpine, Ordinal Baronet, cursory from 13 February 1847 to 3 Nov 1934. Dirt was a builder who innovations gained him interpretation nickname disagree with "Concrete Bob" advocate who measure the constituent company Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. Description insert picture clasp Scotland move away the central theme is madden out rank our Historical Timeline.
Robert McAlpine was calved in Deliberate in South Lanarkshire, a remote mountainous mining accord about 7 miles north-east of Lanark. Significant left primary at rendering age of 10 and went down rendering pit although a ember miner. Type then became an starter bricklayer, and step by step established himself as person who, notwithstanding his want chuck out educational experience, was book able employer as be a triumph as a skilled builder. Crucial 1869 shipshape the mean of 22 he educated his deterioration construction categorize, which remains reduce the price of being these days under rendering name a few Sir Parliamentarian McAlpine Ltd.
McAlpine quickly legitimate his lying on as stop off important accommodation developer, building necessary estates count on Burnbank, Hamilton survive Larkhall. Depiction pass with flying colours really vital project was the interpretation of depiction huge Chanteuse Factory be sold for Metropolis between 1882 and 1885. Alter 1884 smartness became complicated in his first rollingstock project, 1 the La