Thomas Graham Abercrombie was born in Paisley, the son of a well-connected banker, William Abercrombie, who was of the family of Abercrombie of Tullibody, Clackmannan and his wife Robina Andrews Graham. He was articled to John Hutchison of Glasgow, an architect with Paisley connections, in 1876 and at the end of the apprenticeship he emigrated to the USA. In 1886 he returned to Paisley and set up practice with £19 10s advanced by his father. Abercrombie developed close links with the Coats, Clark and Stewart families and was an enthusiastic volunteer, first in the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifles and then in the Argyll and Southern Highlanders, reaching the rank of Captain.
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