1747, in a move to make influential social contacts which were vital to the success of his architectural practice. Archibald played the violin and his brother Alexander played the flute. He later also founded the Aberdeen Artists Society with his friend and collaborator, the artist James Giles, who also undertook several portraits of Simpson for the University Court. James Matthews was articled to Simpson in 1834. Architectural style The boldest and most refined architecture of Simpson is in the Grecian style, in its classic purity of detail and proportion, although he was equally at ease in adopting Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Tudor and Hanseatic architectural styles to meet the preference of his clients or the nature of the site. Clients frequently placed him in open competition with John Smith, though they greatly respected one another's work and ambition to achieve civic unity in the new streets that were then under construction. The result was a fine granite street architecture that was to influence the quality of development for a further century. Death and legacy Simpson died, aged 56, at his house at 1 East Craibstone Street, Aberdeen on 23 March 1847, having returned ill from a business trip to Derby. He is buried in the graveyard of the Kirk of St Nicholas on Union Street. The grave lies to the south of the church. The Aberdeen Civic Society erected a granite memorial to him in the gardens of Bon Accord Square, as part of the European Architectural Heritage Year in 1975. The city has a Wetherspoon pub to honour his memory. Works Works include: 1811 Designs his first building in Aberdeen, Union Chambers, while still in London, for the Duchess of Gordon. 1815 Druminnor House (Additions) 1815 Castle Forbes 1815 Morison of Auchintoul's House, plans prepared while with Robert Lugar 1817 St. Andrew's Chapel, now St. Andrew's Cathedral 1818 Kintore Parish Church and Manse, for his uncle, the Rev. John Shand 1819 Lunatic Asylum 1820 Medico-Chirurgical Building 1820 Assembly Rooms (Music Hall) 1822 Gordon Castle Chapel 1822 Boath House, Nairnshire 1822 Park House 1822 Heathcote House 1822 Haddo House (Additions), for the Earl of Aberdeen 1822 Huntly Lodge (Alterations), for the Duchess of Gordon 1823 Athenaeum 1823 Bon-Accord Terrace, Square and Crescent, for the Tailor Incorporation 1824 Durris House (Additions) 1827 Pitlurg House, for General Gordon Cumming, Skene 1827 Tillery House 1827 Letham Grange, Angus 1827 Morkeu House 1827 School in