George Cousin (1807 - 1890)

Born 31 Aug 1807 in North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland

Husband of Wilhemina (Legget) Cousin — married 7 Jun 1831 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Died 17 Sep 1890 at age 83 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joanne Lamb [send private message]

This profile is part of the Dalrymple Crescent, Edinburgh, Midlothian One Place Study.

Biography

"George Cousin, who supervised the building of No 13 Dalrymple Crescent , was the brother of David Cousin, who had drawn up the 1851 feu plan of the Grange. David was one of the most outstanding architects of his generation, but unfortunately was dogged by ill health. George was born in 1807 , and practiced as an ordained surveyor from about 1840. He also did architectural design. In 1841 he was living in Johnston Place with his wife, Wilhelmina, who was about the same age as him. By 1864 he had been joined by William Ormiston, although the practice title of Cousin & Ormiston was not adopted until about 1877. He was the architect of Grange Publishing Works, which was built in Causewayside in about 1880 for the Banks family (Henry Haig Banks lived in No 11 Dalrymple Crescent). In 1881 he and Wilhelmina were living at 5 Bruntsfield Terrace, when they were both aged 73. His occupation was given as ‘Surveyor and Valuer of Household Property’. George Cousin died on 17 September 1890 but Ormiston who became Lord Dean of Guild continued to practise under the firm's name. George Cousin was also a Town Councillor, and ‘an ardent social reformer’."^[1]

Will: Surveyor, 5 Bruntsfield Terrace, Edinburgh, D. 17091890 At Edinburgh, Testate. 30 Oct 1890. Agency: Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills.

Note: Built no 13 Dalrymple Crescent for Alexander Henderson Chalmers.

Sources

1. ↑ Lamb, Joanne Myra. Dalrymple Crescent, A Snapshot of Victorian Edinburgh, T&J Lamb, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9566713-0-1

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89837597/george-cousin : accessed 30 June 2022), memorial page for George Cousin (31 Aug 1807–17 Sep 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 89837597, citing Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland ; Maintained by Peter Drysdale (contributor 46883597) .
• Index of Scottish Wills & Inventories Publication: General Register Office for Scotland
• 1841 Census of Scotland-FreeCen Publication: General Register Office for Scotland
• The Dictionary of Scottish Architects: http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200864
• Smith, C.J. Historic South Edinburgh, John Donald Publishers Ltd,2nd revised edition, 2003,Edinburgh ISBN-13: 978-0-85976-540-4,Volume 1, page 82