The name Adam gained further prominence in the eighteenth century through the achievements of the renowned architect William Adam and his talented sons, Robert and James. William Adam claimed ancestry from the family of Sir Duncan Adam. The Adams were responsible for designing numerous notable classical buildings, both within and beyond Scotland. Their major commissions included Hopetoun House and Culzean Castle for the aristocracy. In London, the Adelphi buildings in the Strand were named after the brothers, who jointly supervised their construction. Another sibling, John Adam, an acclaimed architect, ventured beyond the classical style to create the gothic masterpiece of Inveraray Castle in Argyll. The Adam brothers also acquired and developed the Blair Adam estate in Kinross-shire, establishing it as the family’s ancestral seat.

The Adam family continued to contribute significantly to society. William Adam of Blairadam (1751-1839) was a prominent politician and advocate. Although he did not attain high government office, he is remembered as a successful political manager. In a curious turn of events, Hyde Park in London became the site of a duel between Adam and Charles James Fox in 1779, resulting in a slight injury to Fox. Remarkably, this duel forged a lasting friendship between the two men. To this day, Blair Adam remains under the ownership and management of the Adam family.