James Matthews of Springhill

A portrait of Provost James Matthews (1819-1898). He served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1883-1886. He was the eldest son of Peter Matthews, teller at the Commercial Bank of Aberdeen, and Margaret Ross, who was the daughter of William Ross, architect and builder, who erected the Union Bridge. Matthews was apprenticed to Archibald Simpson and spent five years in the London office of Sir Gilbert Scott. On returning to Aberdeen he went into partnership with A. Marshall Mackenzie. He entered the Town Council in November 1863.