McPHERSON, John (1791-1856), a native of Scotland, was active in Halifax, N.S. where he advertised his services and claimed to have 'practised for twenty years in some of the best works in Great Britain' and was 'prepared to furnish accurate working plans, ground plans, elevations, sections and specifications for cottages and buildings of every description' (Nova Scotian [Halifax], 20 June 1839, 200). In July 1841 he was paid £10 for plans of a major addition to Bridewell, the Poor's Asylum on Spring Garden Road, HALIFAX, N.S. (inf. PANS). In 1845 he designed a four storey warehouse opposite the Ordnance in Halifax (Nova Scotian [Halifax], 28 July 1845, 238). In 1846 he moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, and stated in an advertisement that he had "...practiced his profession in some of the largest cities in Great Britain and America for many years" (Morning Courier [St. John's], 30 Dec. 1846, 3, advert.). It is almost certainly the same 'John MacPherson' [sic] noted as the Clerk of Works for the Custom House, ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., 1847-48, burned 1892 (Newfoundlander [St. John's], 6 May 1847, 2) and he may have participated in the design of this major government project.
He also possessed the knowledge and skills of an engineer. In 1849 he displayed several plans for water-power mills in Newfoundland designed for the grinding of wheat and corn, and he also showed drawings for several wooden bridges ranging in length from 40 feet to a 450 foot span (Weekly Herald & Conception Bay Advertiser, 9 May 1849, 1). McPherson died in St. John's, Nfld. on 16 September 1856 (death notice Public Ledger [St. John's], 19 Sept. 1856, 2; Times & Commercial Advertiser [St. John's], 20 Sept. 1856, 2; biog. M. Rosinski, Architects of Nova Scotia, 1994, 70)