Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Atkinson, William (1773?-1839)
ATKINSON, WILLIAM (1773?–1839), architect, was born at Bishop's Auckland, near Durham. He began life as a carpenter. Through the patronage of the then bishop of Durham, he became a pupil of James Wyatt. In 1795 he obtained the Academy gold medal for designs for a court of justice. In 1805 he published ‘Picturesque Views of Cottages,’ 4to, London. He had many pupils, and was practically and theoretically an able architect. He was engaged on many important works, and built several large mansions, amongst them Lord Mansfield's house at Scone. ‘He died 22 May 1839, aged 66, at his residence at Cobham, Surrey … and is buried at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He was a most excellent chemist, geologist, and botanist, excelling in the latter science to an extraordinary degree. The well-known Roman cement, called, from himself, Atkinson's cement, was introduced by him to the London market.’
[Redgrave's Dict. of Painters; the Architectural Publication Society's Dictionary of Architecture, 1853.]