Richard Clipston Sturgis

Richard Clipston Sturgis (December 24, 1860 – May 8, 1951), generally known as R. Clipston Sturgis, was an American architect based in Boston, Massachusetts. Life and career Richard Clipston Sturgis was born December 24, 1860, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Russell and Susan Codman (Welles) Sturgis. His grandfather was merchant Russell Sturgis and uncles included architect John Hubbard Sturgis, politician Henry Parkman Sturgis, author Julian Sturgis, and novelist Howard Sturgis. He was educated in the private school of George Washington Copp Noble in Dedham, Massachusetts. He entered Harvard College in 1877, graduating in 1881. From 1881 to 1883, he worked in the office of his uncle, Sturgis & Brigham. He then sailed to England, where he worked until late 1884 for London architect Robert William Edis, then engaged on an extension to Sandringham House. After leaving Edis, he spent two years touring Europe. In August 1886, his uncle dissolved his partnership, and the younger Sturgis returned to Boston to help manage the office. In May 1887, John Hubbard Sturgis returned to his native England to manage his father's affairs, with the younger Sturgis left in charge in Boston. In February 1888, his uncle died in England, and the younger Sturgis succeeded to the practice. He was responsible for completing his uncle's unfinished works, including the Church of the Advent and the new building of the Boston Athletic Association. In May, he formed a partnership with William Robinson Cabot, son of architect Edward Clarke Cabot, known as Sturgis & Cabot. This continued until it was dissolved in May 1895, after which Sturgis continued alone. In July 1902, he formed a new partnership with George Edward Barton, known as Sturgis & Barton. In addition to a Boston office this firm also had a New York office at Tuxedo Park. This partnership was dissolved after a period of six years. He again was sole proprietor of his firm until 1922, when he reorganized his firm as The Office of R. Clipston Sturgis, with William Stanley Parker, William B. Coffin, William Adams, S. Winthrop St. Clair, and Alanson Hall Sturgis, his nephew, as associates.