Edward Skinner (architect)

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox architect

| name = Edward Skinner

| image_size =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1869|03|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Inverurie, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1910|12|26|1869|03|15|df=y}}

| death_place = Colombo, Ceylon

| nationality = British

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| spouse = Olive Minna née Martin (1881–1917)

| partner =

| children =

| parents = James

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}}

Edward Skinner (15 March 1869 – 26 December 1910) was a British architect who was responsible for designing a number of landmark buildings in Ceylon.

Edward Skinner was born on 15 March 1869 in Inverurie, Scotland.{{Cite web |title=DSA Architect Biography Report – Edward Skinner |url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=203585 |access-date=23 February 2020 |publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects}} In 1885 he was articled to John Rust. He left to join a London based architectural practice in 1890, serving as an assistant to Morton M. Glover from 1891 to 1892. In 1893 he passed his architectural qualifying exam and was admitted to the Royal Institute of British Architects on 4 December.{{Cite journal |date=1894 |title=Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects |publisher=Royal Institute of British Architects |volume=1 |page=86}}

Skinner emigrated to Ceylon before the end of 1893 working as an assistant to an engineering firm before commencing his own architectural practice in 1897. He was responsible for designing a number of buildings in Colombo, including the south wing of the Galle Face Hotel (1894),{{Cite news |last=Salie, Ryhanna |date=14 August 2016 |title=Galle Face Hotel: Colombo's Iconic landmark |work=Sunday Observer |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2016/08/14/spe-rem-01.asp |access-date=23 February 2020}} Victoria Masonic Temple (1901),{{Cite book |title=Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources |date=1999 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=9788120613355 |editor-last=Wright, Arnold |page=419}} Cargills & Co. (1902),{{Cite book |last=Raheem, Ismeth |title=Images of British Ceylon: nineteenth century photography of Sri Lanka |last2=Colin-Thorne, Percy |publisher=Times Editions |page=112}} Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital (1903),{{Cite book |title=Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources |date=1999 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=9788120613355 |editor-last=Wright, Arnold |page=421}} Lindsay Lecture Hall,{{Cite book |last=Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka |title=Faith of our fathers: history of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) |date=1983 |publisher=Pragna Publishers |editor-last=Franciscus, S. Douglas |page=74}} St. Andrew's Church (1906),{{Cite news |last=Dishan, Joseph |date=17 March 2019 |title=Sustaining the Scottish tradition of worship |work=Sunday Observer |url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2019/03/17/focus/sustaining-scottish-tradition-worship |access-date=23 February 2020}} Wesley College (1907){{Cite journal |date=1907 |title=Indian Education |volume=4 |page=72}} and Lloyd's Building (1908).{{Cite news |date=5 June 2011 |title=Refurbished Lloyd's opens for business |work=Sunday Observer |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2011/06/05/fin20.asp |access-date=23 February 2020}} On 7 June 1909 he was admitted as a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.{{Cite journal |date=1909 |title=Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects |publisher=Royal Institute of British Architects |page=564}}

Skinner committed suicide at his offices in Colombo fort on 26 December 1910.{{Cite book |title=Ferguson's Ceylon Directory |date=1912 |publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited |page=64}}{{Cite news |date=7 January 1911 |title=Suicide at Colombo |page=12 |work=The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19110107-1.2.69}}