Such schools as existed in Montreal during his youthful days provided Alexander Cowper Hutchison with his educational opportunities. When but a boy of twelve years he began to learn the stone-cutter’s trade under the direction of his father and during the winter months for two or three years after he had commenced work he attended the school conducted by the late C. P. Watson. Subsequently he became a student in night school and devoted all of his spare time to study, having come to a full realization of the value of education. He possessed an inherited talent for drawing and to develop his powers in that direction he attended drawing classes that were conducted at the Mechanics’ Institute. He had made rapid progress from the very first as a stone-cutter and displayed exceptional ability and skill in that direction. When scarcely out of his teens he was placed in charge of the cut stone work on Christ Church Cathedral and some of the finest stone work around the altar in that edifice was cut by him before he had attained his majority. After the completion of that building he was placed in charge of the cut stone work of the eastern block of the parliament buildings at Ottawa during their erection, his efforts in that connection continuing through the year 1862. While engaged in that work he successfully conducted classes in drawing which were largely attended. On the completion of the government buildings he was called to Montreal to conduct classes in connection with the Mechanics’ Institute, giving instructions in architectural and geometric drawing. These classes were afterward transferred to the Board of Arts and Manufacturers and it was while connected therewith that he took up the active practice of his profession which he followed for many years. The beauty and utility which have always been salient features of his designs are evident in many of the principal buildings of Montreal.