Archibald Campbell Douglas [commonly known as Campbell Douglas] was born in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 14 June 1828 and was articled to John Thomas Rochead (1814-1878) from 1842 to 1847 in Glasgow. He then worked briefly as an assistant to Ignatius Bonomi (1787-1870) in Durham, England and to John Dobson (1787-1865) in London from c.1847 to c.1855.
In c.1856 he returned to Glasgow to establish his own independent practice. In 1860 he formed a partnership with John James Stevenson (1831-1908). The partnership was dissolved in 1868, and in c.1872 he formed the partnership Campbell Douglas & Sellars with James Sellars (1843-1888). The partnership closed in 1888 following the death of Sellers that year. The following year Douglas took into partnership one of his leading draughtsmen, Alexander Barr Morrison (1857-1937) as Campbell Douglas & Morrison. This partnership was dissolved in 1901 when, apparently Morrison developed an addiction to alcohol. Douglas formed his final partnership with Alexander Nisbet Paterson (1862-1947) Campbell Douglas & Paterson in 1903.
Douglas was a member of the Glasgow Institute of Architects and the Glasgow Architectural Association, of which he was three times President
Illness forced Douglas to retire from practice in 1906, although Paterson continued the practice under the same name until at least 1910. Douglas died in Edinburgh on 14 April 1910.
A biographical file on Campbell Douglas is available on request at theEnquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British Architects Library, London
Architectural work by Douglas included Wallacetown Free Church, Ayrshire (1855); Alloway Parish Church (1855); Briggate Free Church, Glasgow (1857–1859); Invertiel Free Church, Kirkcaldy (1857); Millport Free Churcyh, Bute (1857); Brisbane Academy, Largs (1858); Lion St UP Church, Glasgow (1859); Corn Exchange, Cupar, Fife (1861); McDonald Mission Church, Cowcaddens, Glasgow (1861); Moulin Free Church, Pitlochry (1861); St Peters Mission Church, Glasgow (1861); Kelvinside Free Church (1862); Campsie Free Church (1863); Clola Free Church (1863); Kilbarchan Girls' School (1863); Reformed Presbyterian Church, Derry (1863); Greyfriars Church, Dumfries (1866); Cove Castle (jointly with James Sellars) (1867); Dunoon pier and offices (1867); Episcopal Church and English Free Church, Campbeltown (1867); Monument to Dr John Alexander, Kirkcaldy Cemetery (1868); Scottish Amicable Insurance Offices, Glasgow (1870); Burnbank UP Church, Glasgow (1871); Stewart Memorial Fountain, Wellington Park, Kelvingrove (1871); Langholm Cottage Hospital (1872); Wesleyan Church, Claremont St, Glasgow (1872); Cowcaddens Free Church (1872); Dysart Free Church (1872); Queen's Park Church, Glasgow (1872); St Enoch's Free Church, Partick (1873); Lenzie UP Church (1874); Cupar Free Church (1875); Belhaven UP Church and Mission, Glasgow (1875-77); Blackfriars Park Church, Glasgow (1876); Kelvinside Academy (working with James Sellars) (1877); Finnieston Free Church, Kelvingrove (1878) ; Her Majesty's Theatre, Gorbals Street, Glasgow (1878); Milton Street School, Cowcaddens (1878); Anderston Free Church, Glasgow (1879); Glasgow Medical Mission, Calton, Glasgow (1879); Factory for Wylie & Lochhead, Charing Cross, Glasgow (1880–1883); Mission Hospital in Safed, Syria (1880); Free Abbey Church, Dunfermline (1881); Sick Children's Hospital, Garnethill, Glasgow (1881); Pathhead Public Hall, Kirkcaldy (1882); Lochgoilhead Free Church (1883); Mugdock House (with James Sellars) (1883); Sinclairtown Town Hall and Library, Kirkcaldy (1883); Glasgow Medical Mission, Gorbals, Glasgow (1884); Dysart Town Hall (1885); Mission Hospital, Tiberias in Palestine (1885); Proudfoot Institute, Moffat (1885); St Andrews Free Church, Edinburgh (1886); Couper Institute, Cathcart, Glasgow (1887); Spiers School, Beith, Ayrshire (1887); St Andrews Scots Church, Bournemouth (1887); Anderson's College Medical School, now part of the University of Glasgow (1888); Greenock Baptist Church (1888); Hampstead Presbyterian Church (1888); Ayr Public Library (1891); Canaan House, Morningside, Edinburgh (1892); Bridgend UP Church, Perth (1893); Cowan Institute, Penicuik (1893); Inveraray Free Church (1895); Sandeman Public Library, Perth (1895); Milngavie Free Church and Hall (1896); Paisley Technical School (1896); UP Church, St John's Town of Dalry (1897); Kirkcaldy Burgh Infectious Diseases Hospital (1897); Factory for Barr & Stroud, Anniesland, Glasgow (1903); Lochboisdale Church, South Uist (1904); National Bank of Scotland, St Enoch's Square, Glasgow (1906).
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See also:
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
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 98, 23 April 1910 p. 469
‘Obituary’. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 17, 1910 pp. 606-608