James Richardson Forman
James Richardson Forman (1823-1900) of Robson, Forman and McCall
Civil engineer and railway man of West of Scotland.
Worked in railways in Nova Scotia.
1860 Returned to Glasgow.
Important Undertakings include;
- Greenock and Ayreshire and Wemyss Bay Railways.
- Blanc Valley and Milngarvie Railways.
- Greenock Waterworks.
His son Charles Forman became the principal partner in Formans and McCall.
1900 Died aged 78.
1900 Obituary [1]
JAMES RICHARDSON FORMAN died at his residence, Craig Park, Ratho, Midlothian, on the 8th July, 1900, in his 78th year. He was a native of Nova Scotia, to which colony the family emigrated from Coldstream, in Berwickshire, in 1780.
In 1841 he came to Glasgow, and, after serving an apprenticeship to Mr. Niel Robson, he was appointed in 1845 Resident Engineer on the Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway, then in course of construction, in connection with which serious difficulties had arisen between the Company and the contractor.
After successfully completing and equipping that railway Mr. Forman remained as Manager until 1851, when he was appointed Manager of the Glasgow General Terminus Railway, which post he held for two years.
He then accepted a commission as Government Engineer for the province of Nova Scotia, where he served for six years.
Returning to Glasgow in 1860, Mr. Forman entered into partnership with Mr. Robert Robson and Mr. McCall, under the style of Robson, Forman & McCall, and took an active interest in railway development in Scotland.
Among the undertakings with which he was connected were the Greenock and Ayrshire and Wemyss Bay Railways, the Blane Valley line, the Busby and East Kilbride, Stobcross, Kelvin Valley, Milngavie and Aberfoyle Railways, and Gryffe Waterworks, Greenock.
Latterly Mr. Forman did not take active interest in business, although he remained Chairman of the Aberfoyle Slate Quarries Company, and, until recently, of the Edinburgh American Land Mortgage Company, which post he had held for over twenty years. He was also a Director of the Arizona Copper Company.
Since 1880 he resided at Ratho, and took a lively interest in all connected with that village, having been Chairman of the local School Board and Parish Council.
Mr. Forman was elected a Member of the Institution on the 1st May, 1866.
1900 Obituary [2]
1900 Obituary.[3]