Dowdall, William Macdonnell Mitchell 1842 - 1928

William Macdonnell Mitchell Dowdall [also known as William M. M. Dowdall] was born in 1842 [or 1843 - sources differ]. After working as an assistant to George Low (1824?-1906) in 1859 and to Francis E. H. Fowler (1849-1929), he was articled to Sir Robert William Edis (1839-1927) in 1864. On completion of his articles he remained with Edis as his his assistant until 1870. From 1870 to 1874 he was employed as an assistant in the offices of Sir John Fowler (1817-1898, Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) and Herbert Ford (1832?-1903).

Dowdall commenced practice as an architect in London in 1870 and between c.1883 and c.1921 worked in both Shanghai, China and in London, having offices in both cities.  Between 1895 and 1900 he worked in partnership with the civil engineer Robert Bradshaw Moorhead (1832-1903) in Shanghai.  During his time in China, Dowdall designed the Union Church, on Suzhou Road in Shanghai in 1885, inaugurated in July 1886;  fortifications on the Yangtsze River and the Shanghai Saint Ignatius Cathedral in 1905-10.   He evidently spent a period of time working in Ireland as his address was given as Rutland Hall, Dolphin's Barn, Crumlin, Ireland in 1903.

Dowdall was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1882 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1891. His address was given as 21 King Street, London in 1891 and 1905; 5, Peking Road, Shanghai, China in 1908 and 1920; and Cliffside, Weston, Southampton, Hampshire in 1922. He died on 21 May 1928. His address at the time of his death was given as Clandee-cot, Erroll Road, Hove, Sussex