Matthew James Dawson was born in London, England on 8 July 1876 [1]. He was educated at Ardrossan Academy in Ayrshire, Scotland, and at Sydney Grammar School Sydney University in New South Wales, Australia. After being articled to Ernest R. Weitsel in Sydney between 1893 and 1896 he moved to England where he studied at Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, and the Atelier Laloux in Paris. He then travelled through Italy and France. Following his return to England he worked as an assistant to Thomas Edward Collcutt (1840-1924) for two years, to Frank Thomas Baggallay (1855-1930) for six months, and in the London County Council Architects' Department for two years.
Dawson was awarded the Soane Medal in 1901. He qualified as an architect in 1906 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA.) the following year. He commenced practise as an architect in London in 1907 and between 1909 and 1914, and from 1920, designed a number of houses for Hampstead Garden Suburb.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1921.
Dawson was head teacher in architectural design and drawing at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in London from 1907 to 1912, and at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and Westminster Technical Institute in London from 1918 to 1923. He was Principal of the LCC School of Building in Brixton from 1927 to 1929, and Senior Lecturer at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, from 1929 to 1939.
He exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1903, and participated in the 7th (1903) and 11th (1916) exhibitions of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society in London.
His address was given 33 Ossington Street, Bayswater, London in 1903; 21 Trafalgar Square, Chelsea, London in 1911; 5, Selwood Terrace, South Kensington, London in 1914; 15 St. Peter's Quare, Hammersmith, London in 1915; 9 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, London in 1920; 11 New Court, Lincoln's Inn, London in 1926; and 3 Corringham Way, Hendon, Middlesex in 1939 and 1943. He died in Hendon, Middlesex on 24 December 1943.
A biographical file on Matthew James Dawson is available on request from the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British Architects, London
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[1] Dawson's year of birth is often incorrectly given as 1875
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
Harwood, Elain. Art Deco Britain: Buildings of the Interwar Years. London: Batsford, 2019
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 51, February 1944 pp. 94-95
‘Obituary’, The Builder vol. 166, 28 January 1944 p. 72
Who’s Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914