Background
He was born in the Gorbals in Glasgow, son of James Sellars, house factor and Elizabeth McDonald.
He was born in the Gorbals in Glasgow, son of James Sellars, house factor and Elizabeth McDonald.
He was articled to Hugh Barclay from the age of 13 and stayed there until he was 21 when he then moved to the employment of James Hamilton. He was one of the designers commissioned by the Saracen Foundry to work on a set of standard designs for a series of decorative iron works, for example railings, drinking fountains, bandstands, street lamps, pre-fabricated buildings and architectural features. He died on 9 October 1888 of blood-poisoning contracted from a nail piercing his boot whilst on site.