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]

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 £1,493,007 in 2023).[6]


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

Wives and children

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

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

He married 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]

Main works

  • Tain railway station
    Tain railway station
  • Dunkeld & Birnam station
    Dunkeld & Birnam station
  • Blair Atholl Station
    Blair Atholl Station
  • Nairn railway station
    Nairn railway station
  • Strathpeffer station
    Strathpeffer station
  • Dingwall station
    Dingwall station
  • Redcastle Railway Station
    Redcastle Railway Station
  • Burghead railway station
    Burghead railway station
  • Culloden Viaduct
    Culloden Viaduct
  • Tomatin railway viaduct
    Tomatin railway viaduct
  • Aultnaslanach Railway Viaduct
    Aultnaslanach Railway Viaduct
  • Plockton Station
    Plockton Station
  • Slochd Mhuic Railway Viaduct
    Slochd Mhuic Railway Viaduct

References

  1. ^ "Our London Letter". Dundee Courier. Scotland. 10 August 1898. Retrieved 8 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  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 7 May 2024.