Fairlie, Reginald Francis Joseph, RSA
1883 – 1952
Fairlie was born at Kincaple House near St Andrews, the son of James Ogilvie Reginald Fairlie, a fund holder and his wife Jane Mary Buchanan or Fairlie. He grew up in nearby Auchtermuchty and trained as a young man in the office of Sir Robert Lorimer, RSA. He lived in London for a time and studied on the continent, particularly in France and Italy. In 1909 he set up in practice and then served in the First World War. He resumed his practice at 7 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, which was also his home, after the war. He designed many Roman Catholic churches and chapels but he also built houses and his major public commission was the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh which was completed after his death. He exhibited at the RSA from 1911 until 1951. He became an Associate Member of the RSA in 1923 and an Academician in 1934.
