Murdoch Paterson

Murdoch Paterson (September 1826 – 9 August 1898[1]) was an engineer and architect based in Inverness, Scotland, who was chief engineer of the Highland Railway.

Background

He was born in September 1826, one of five sons of Donald Paterson (1778-1851), farmer, at Dell of Inshes, Inverness, and Elizabeth Munro(1789–1847).

He was educated at Inverness Royal Academy, and initially worked as a wine merchant in Inverness.[2]

His elder brother, William Paterson, was also an engineer.[3]

He married firstly Jane MacCallum (1826 - 1868) in January 1852. They had two children:

  • Elizabeth Paterson (1853 - 1933)
  • Donald Paterson (1854 - 1885).

He married secondly Frances Wiles (1837 - 1906) in London in 1870 and they also had two children:

  • Violet Mary J Paterson (b. 1875)
  • Murdoch William Paterson (1877 - 1880).[2]

Career

In 1846 he became articled to Joseph Mitchell, the Inspector of Highland Roads and Bridges, and surveyor of railways in the Highlands. In 1851 he worked on expanding the Port of Inverness, and from 1854 worked with Joseph Mitchell on the construction of new lines for the Highland Railway, including Inverness to Keith.

In 1862, Joseph Mitchell set up a partnership with William and Murdoch Paterson, as Joseph Mitchell and Company. Mitchell retired in 1867, and Murdoch became chief engineer of the Highland Railway on 6 November 1874.[4]

As well as engineering the construction of new lines for the Highland Railway, he also prepared the designs of many new stations.

He died on 9 August 1898 whilst still in post, just three months before the opening of the new line from Inverness to Aviemore. His estate was valued at £10,611[5] (equivalent to £1,190,709 in 2019).[6]

Business positions
Preceded by
Peter Wilson		 Chief Engineer of the Highland Railway
1874-1898		 Succeeded by
William Roberts

Main works
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • Tain railway station
  • Dunkeld & Birnam station
  • Blair Atholl Station
  • Nairn railway station
  • Strathpeffer station
  • Dingwall station
  • Redcastle Railway Station
  • Burghead railway station
  • Culloden Moor viaduct
  • Tomatin railway viaduct
  • Aultnaslanach Railway Viaduct
  • Plockton Station
  • Slochd Mhuic Railway Viaduct
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References
  1. "Our London Letter". Dundee Courier. Scotland. 10 August 1898. Retrieved 8 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. Paterson, Anne-Mary (October 2016). "Murdoch Paterson: A Highland Engineer". Steam Days. Key Publishing Limited.
  3. "Murdoch Paterson". Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. Vallance, H.A.; Clinker, C.R. (1971). The Highland Railway. Pan Macmillan. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-330-02720-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. "Deaths". Aberdeen Journal. Scotland. 24 November 1898. Retrieved 8 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
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