Sir Philip Henry Manning Dowson (born 1924) is a leading British architect. In 1993 he was elected as President of the Royal Academy

Career

Dowson was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, from 1938 to 1942 and then went up to University College, Oxford to read Mathematics. This was during the Second World War, and after one year, at the age of nineteen, he joined the Royal Navy and remained in uniform until 1947.

On leaving the Navy, Dowson proceeded to Clare College, Cambridge to study Art 1947-1950, and then to the Architectural Association School, London.

From 1953 he worked with the engineer Sir Ove Arup, in 1963 becoming a partner in Arup Associates and from 1969 rising to be the firm's senior partner and Chief Architect.

Dowson has contributed to a large number of major projects, including new buildings for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Honours

• 1969 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
• 1980 Knighthood
• 1981 Royal Academician
• 1981 Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects
• 1993 President of the Royal Academy of Arts

He also serves as a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery.