Robert Hogg Matthew was born on 12 December 1906. He was a pupil of Melville College (now Stewart's Daniel and Melville College) and then a student in the School of Architecture in the Edinburgh College of Art. His professional career began in the office of his father's firm, Messrs. Lorimer and Matthew. Between 1936 and 1946 he worked for the Department of Health for Scotland and became the Chief Architect and Planning Officer in 1945. Thereafter he was Architect to the London County Council, 1946 to1953. Matthew was involved in the Clyde Valley Regional Plan in Scotland and also in the building of the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. In 1952, he was appointed Professor of Architecture at Edinburgh University and Head of the School of Architecture in the Edinburgh College of Art. From 1970 he was consultant adviser on building convservation policy to the Secretary of State for Scotland. Matthew was awarded the CBE in 1952, and was knighted in 1962. Sir Robert Hogg Matthew died on 21 June 1975.