Raby, George | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

RABY, George (1829-1925) was active in Ottawa, Ont. from 1860 until 1868. He advertised his services as an architect in the partnership of John & George Raby, Architects, Surveyors, Measurers and Valuers in late 1860 (Ottawa Citizen, 2 Nov. 1860, 1, advert.), Nearly 6 years later, he was still listing himself as an architect in Ottawa (Ottawa Citizen from 24 Nov. 1866, 3). In his obituary published in the R.A.I.C. Journal, ii, Nov.-Dec. 1925, 235, he was erroneously referred to as '...one of the architects who designed the old Parliament Buildings in Ottawa'. He was, in fact, serving on the Board of Architects organized by Charles Baillairge to oversee the completion of the East Block and West Block, as designed by Stent & Laver. Born in Manchester, England, Raby arrived in Canada in 1860 and remained in Ottawa until 1868. He later moved to Quincy, Illinois, and then to St. Louis, Missouri where he died on 10 November 1925 (obit. Ottawa Journal, 11 Nov. 1925, 1; Canadian Engineer, xlix, 17 Nov. 1925, 566). He may be related to John Spencer Raby 'Architect & Civil Engineer', listed in the Ottawa City Directory, 1861-62, who may have been his brother.