William John Devlin [also known as W. J. Devlin] was born in 1870, probably in Ireland. He was educated in Dundalk, Ireland and was articled to David Woodburn Sturrock (1860-1934) in Glasgow from 1887 to 1889, and to Walter Glynn Doolin (1850-1902) in Dublin from 1889 to 1892. He then remained with Doolin as an assistant until 1894. He also studied at the Metropolitan School of Art and the Royal College of Science in Dublin, and at the Architectural Association in London, where he was awarded the Design Medal in 1896.
From c.1897 to 1901 he was employed as an assistant in various architectural offices in Dublin, London, Oxford and Cape Town. In 1901 he qualified as an architect and that year established his own architectural practice in London. In 1910 he relocated his practice to Aberdeen where he began lecturing on the history of architecture at Robert Gordon’s College. In 1926 he opened an office in Edinburgh whilst still apparently retaining his practice in Aberdeen.
Devlin was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1902. He designed several Roman Catholic churches in Scotland. Devlin died on 28 May 1932
Country houses at Goval, 1912, and at Clinterty, Aberdeenshire, 1914; church extensions at. Elgin, Banff, Dufftown, Tynet, etc.; convent school and chapel buildings, Aberdeen; school, Dufftown, etc.; Memorials, 1920-22, at 8t. Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen; St. Peter's Church, Aberdeen; Blair's College, Aberdeenshire; Catholic Church, Banff; Hostel, R.C. Training College, Aberdeen. 1923; R.C. Church, Foyers, Inverness-shire, 1925, etc. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
For a list of architectural projects by him from 1893 to 1932 see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980
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
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1926