George Dawson (builder)

George Dawson
Born	(1821-06-12)12 June 1821 Skelton-on-Ure, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	22 February 1889(1889-02-22) (aged 67) Harrogate, England
Burial place	Grove Road Cemetery, Harrogate
Monuments	Large gravestone sculpture by Thomas Potts
Occupations	Builder and developer alderman
Years active	1855–1888
Known for	Property development in Harrogate
Notable work	Prospect Crescent Cambridge Crescent Vanderbilt Court development of the Montpellier Quarter

George Dawson (12 June 1821 – 22 February 1889) was an English builder, property developer and alderman. The son of a village labourer, he was a self-made man who started as a cooper, became a rich entrepreneur and built himself a mansion.

However, Dawson achieved his success by hard work, and the mansion only appeared towards the end of his life. Between the coopering and the mansion-building, and in a working partnership with architect John Henry Hirst of Bristol, he built or expanded many large buildings in Harrogate. This included Prospect Crescent, Cambridge Crescent, the wings of the Crown hotel, and many blocks and large villas in the town. Alongside fellow developer Richard Ellis, he helped to develop Harrogate into a town with impressive buildings.

Dawson married twice and had eight children. After he died his second wife erected over his grave a large sculpture by Thomas Potts of Harrogate.