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William Adam (October 30, 1689 – June 24, 1748) was a Scottish architect and builder, born in Maryburgh, Fife, Scotland. He turned the building firm of his father, John Adam, in Kirkcaldy, into Scotland's largest construction and contracting enterprise of the time.

Contents 1 First notices 2 Works 3 Famous family 4 References 5 External links

In 1728 only William Adam and Alexander McGill are described as architects in the subscribers' list to James Gibbs's Book of Architecture. That year Adam became Clerk and Storekeeper of the King's Works in Scotland, and from 1730 Mason to the Board of Ordnance in North Britain. The latter position brought him large contracts for military fortifications following the 1745 Jacobite Rising, including Fort George near Inverness.

Adam used a wide variety of sources for his designs, often reminiscent of Continental Baroque, as well as Gibbs and Vanbrugh. His best known works are Hopetoun House and Duff House in Banff. He only built one church - Hamilton Old Parish Church in 1734. His work with Roger Morris on Inveraray Castle, developing and modifying an original design by Vanbrugh, provides an early example of Gothic Revival architecture.

From 1727 he planned to publish a book, but his Vitruvius Scoticus, featuring most of his buildings, was only published in 1812 by his grandson.

William Adam was the father of John Adam, Robert Adam, James Adam and William Adam (Jr). Of his daughters, Janet (Jenny) and Elizabeth (Betty) ran their brother Robert's London establishment and became co-heirs; Helen and Margaret (Peggy, who was much admired by the painter Paul Sandby) stayed in Edinburgh. Mary married John Drysdale, Minister of the Tron Kirk and at one time Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, though now chiefly remembered for his friendship with Adam Smith, the economist. Susannah married John Clerk of Eldin, son of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, 2nd Bt.

• The Brothers Adam - The Men and the Style, by Joseph and Anne Rykwert, Collins, London, 1985, ISBN 0-00-217509-6

• William Adam's Gravesite