▁appointed ▁Survey or ▁of ▁the ▁King ' s ▁Works ▁in ▁Scotland , ▁although ▁the ▁following ▁year ▁he ▁acquired ▁the ▁less er ▁position ▁of ▁C ler k ▁and ▁Store keeper ▁of ▁the ▁King ' s ▁Works ▁in ▁Scotland , ▁under ▁the ▁Master ▁of ▁Works ▁Sir ▁John ▁An str uther . ▁In ▁ 1 7 3 0 ▁Adam ▁was ▁appointed ▁principal ▁Mason ▁to ▁the ▁Board ▁of ▁Or dn ance ▁in ▁North ▁Britain . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 7 2 7 ▁Adam ▁and ▁Sir ▁John ▁C ler k ▁travel led ▁to ▁London , ▁visit ing ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁country ▁seats ▁along ▁the ▁way , ▁including ▁Cl ived en , ▁Wil ton , ▁and ▁W anst ead ▁House . ▁In ▁London , ▁Adam ▁attempted ▁to ▁make ▁further ▁political ▁contacts , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁seeking ▁out ▁an ▁eng ra ver ▁for ▁his ▁project ed ▁book ▁of ▁architect ural ▁plans , ▁which ▁would ▁eventually ▁become ▁Vit ru vi us ▁Scot icus . ▁Also ▁while ▁in ▁London , ▁he ▁sat ▁to ▁William ▁A ik man ▁for ▁his ▁portrait . ▁ ▁Arch itect , ▁entrepr ene ur , ▁and ▁la ird ▁By ▁ 1 7 2 8 , ▁Adam ▁was ▁firm ly ▁established ▁as ▁a ▁successful ▁architect ▁with ▁numerous ▁on going ▁business ▁concerns , ▁including ▁coal ▁min ing , ▁salt ▁p anning , ▁quar ry ing ▁and ▁agricult ural ▁improvements , ▁although ▁in ▁that ▁year ▁occurred ▁the ▁death ▁of ▁his ▁partner ▁and ▁father - in - law ▁William ▁Robert son . ▁For ▁the ▁same ▁year , ▁William ▁Adam ▁and ▁Alexander ▁McG