Colen Campbell

Colen Campbell, architect, was buried in the south cloister of Westminster Abbey on 13th September 1729 but he never seems to have had an inscribed gravestone and he has no monument. He was a son of Donald, laird of Boghole and Urchany in Scotland, and his wife Elizabeth (Innes). His sister was Henrietta (Grant). After training as a lawyer he moved to England to become an architect. He was commissioned to build Wanstead House in Essex and other works were Houghton Hall in Norfolk, the house for the Master of the Rolls in London, and, possibly, Kensington palace. The book Vitruvius Britannicus, to which he contributed, helped to shape classical architecture in Britain. Colen also worked on Burlington House, Piccadilly and was architect to the Prince of Wales. After Vanburgh's death he became Surveyor of Greenwich Hospital. His liason with Jane Bubb did not apparently produce any children.

Further reading

"The architecture of Colen Campbell" by H.E. Stutchbury, 1967

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

"The history of the King's works" vol.V, edited by H.M. Colvin, 1976

Buried

13th September 1729

Occupation

Architect; lawyer

Location

South Cloister

Colen Campbell
South Cloister

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