Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet

Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet
Born Robert McAlpine
(1847-02-13)February 13, 1847
Newarthill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died November 3, 1934(1934-11-03) (aged 87)
Nationality Scottish
Other names Concrete Bob
Occupation Businessman
Spouse(s)
  • Agnes Hepburn (m. 1868; d. 1888)
  • Florence Margaret Palmer (m. 1889–1934)
Children 6; including Alfred David and Archibald Douglas

Sir Robert McAlpine, 1st Baronet (13 February 1847 – 3 November 1934),[1] nicknamed "Concrete Bob", founded the British construction firm which is now known as Sir Robert McAlpine.

Career

He left school at the age of 10 to work in a coal mine, but became an apprentice bricklayer. He was involved in the building of roads, public buildings and other works, some of the tunnelling for the Glasgow Subway and the Singer Sewing Machine factory in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.[2] Overseas, in 1918 McAlpine was contracted to expand the harbour in Heraklion, Crete. The power station built for the purpose was later used to provide the town's electricity.[3]

Construction company

Main article: Sir Robert McAlpine

McAlpine built up the large building and civil engineering firm that bears his name; it continues to exist today. He was also a pioneer in the use of concrete and labour-saving machinery. See also Glenfinnan Viaduct.[4]

Baronet

He was made a baronet in June 1918.[5][6] He was first of the McAlpine baronets.

Family

Robert McAlpine was married twice. On 12 June 1868, he married Agnes Hepburn (d. 1888). They had five sons: Robert (1868-1934), William Hepburn (1871-1950), Thomas Malcolm (1877-1967), Alfred David (1881-1944) and Granville (1882-1928) and two daughters, Agnes and Ethel. On 21 August 1889, he married Florence Margaret Palmer and had one son: Archibald Douglas (1890-1981) and two daughters, Emma and Roberta.[7] Roberta married Richard Lloyd George and was the mother of Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor.

Styles of address

References

  1. ↑ "Person Page 7365". Thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Electricity | Major Public Works | Union - World War I - The Interwar Years | Historical Periods | Municipality of Heraklion - a city through the ages". Grypas.heraklion.gr. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Surname History". Family-crests.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30723. p. 6524. 3 June 1918.
  6. ↑ Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "McAlpine". Oxforddnb.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
New Creation		 Baronet
(of Knott Park)
1918–1934 		Succeeded by
Robert McAlpine


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