Everything about Benjamin Henry Latrobe totally explained
Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe (
May 1,
1764 -
September 3,
1820) was a British-born American
architect best known for his design of the
United States Capitol, as well as his design of
Baltimore's cathedral. His mother was born in
Pennsylvania, where her father (Henry Antes) was a wealthy landowner who had an interest in
Moravian missionaries. Margaretta was sent to England, where she attended school at Fulneck. Latrobe's father was responsible for all Moravian schools and establishments in Britain, and had an extensive circle of friends in the higher ranks of society.
In 1776, at the age of 12, Latrobe was sent away to the Moravian School, a
seminary, at Niesky in
Silesia on the borders of
Saxony and
Poland. In 1785, at age 18, Latrobe spent several months traveling in
Germany, and then he joined the
Prussian army. While serving in the army, he became close friends with a distinguished officer in the army of the United States. Through his education and travels, Latrobe was fluent in not only
English, but also mastered
German,
French,
Greek, and
Latin, and knew
Italian and
Spanish at advanced levels.
When he returned to England in 1784, he entered apprenticeship to
John Smeaton the engineer (of
Eddystone Lighthouse fame). Latrobe supervised construction of a canal in
Surrey, among other projects. In 1790, Latrobe was hired as Surveyor of the Public Offices in London, though also continued his private practice. In 1793, he also designed
Ashdown House which was built nearby.
In 1790, Latrobe married Lydie Sellon and had two children before she died in 1793. The money was to be paid through a trust with the children's uncles who ended up never giving the inheritance to the children.
United States
Latrobe remained in Virginia, spending time in Norfolk and
Richmond, Virginia, until November 1798 when he moved to
Philadelphia. One of Latrobe's first works in the United States was the State Penitentiary in Richmond, which was built in 1797/98. The penitentiary included many innovative ideas in
penal reform, espoused by
Thomas Jefferson and other figures, including cells arranged in a semicircle that allowed for easy
surveillance, as well as improved living conditions for
sanitation and
ventilation. Latrobe also pioneered the use of solitary confinement in the Richmond penitentiary. Latrobe also worked on the
Green Spring mansion near
Williamsburg, which had been built by Governor Sir
William Berkeley in the 1600s, but was in disrepair after the
American Revolutionary War.
Latrobe was visiting Philadelphia in March 1798, when he met the Bank of Pennsylvania president, Samuel L. Fox and suggested a design for a new bank building. Months later, Latrobe was commissioned to design the Bank of Pennsylvania (1799-1801), which was the first example of
Greek Revival architecture in the United States. The Bank of Pennsylvania building was since demolished in 1870. Latrobe was also hired to design the
Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia. The Pump House, located at Center Square, was designed by Latrobe in a Greek Revival style. Latrobe complained in jest that after building the Philadelphia Waterworks and the Bank of Pennsylvania that the whole town copied him; his influence on public architecture endured. As a young architect,
Robert Mills worked as an assistant with Latrobe from 1803 until 1808 when he set up his own practice.
In addition to Greek Revival designs, Latrobe also used
Gothic Revival designs in many of his works, including the 1799 design of
Sedgeley, a country mansion in Philadelphia. The Gothic Revival style in Latrobe's design of the Philadelphia Bank building, which was built in 1807 and demolished in 1836.
While in Philadelphia, Latrobe married Mary Elizabeth Hazlehurst in 1800. Due to the way the
wind blows, he believed that the eastern shores of
rivers were unhealthy and recommended cities be built on the western shores of rivers. In 1803, Latrobe was hired as
Surveyor of the Public Buildings of the United States, and in 1804 became chief engineer in the
United States Navy. Latrobe's major work was overseeing construction of the
United States Capitol, but he also was responsible for numerous other projects in Washington.
Latrobe was a friend of
Thomas Jefferson and likely influenced Jefferson's design for the
University of Virginia; he was
Aaron Burr's preferred architect. He knew many of the principal people of his time, both illustrious - like presidents Jefferson and
James Monroe - and - ill-famed - like
New Orleans architect/
pirate Barthelemy Lafon. Latrobe's illustrated journals from his wide travels are a record of the young United States. Latrobe trained
William Strickland in the art of architecture as there were no formal architecture schools in the United States at that time. Latrobe faced
bureaucratic hurdles in moving forward with the canal, with the Directors of the Company rejecting his request for stone
locks. Instead, the
canal was built with wooden locks which were subsequently destroyed in a heavy storm in 1811.
Latrobe was involved in other transportation issues, aside from Washington Canal. He was consulted on construction of the Washington Bridge across the
Potomac River in a way that wouldn't impede navigation and commerce to
Georgetown. Road projects included building the Washington & Alexandria Turnpike which connected Washington with
Alexandria, as well as a road connecting with
Frederick, Maryland, and a third road, the Columbia Turnpike going through
Bladensburg to
Baltimore.
Benjamin Latrobe was responsible for several projects, located around
Lafayette Square, including
St. John's Episcopal Church,
Decatur House, and the
White House porticos. Private homes designed by Latrobe include commissions by
John P. Van Ness and
Peter Casanove.
United States Capitol
Latrobe was hired in 1803 as superintendent of construction, to work on the
United States Capitol, with plans designed by
William Thornton and construction work already underway. Latrobe criticized the work done up to that point, and characterized it as "faulty construction" in an 1803 letter to Vice President
Aaron Burr. Nonetheless, President
Thomas Jefferson insisted that Latrobe follow Thornton's design for the Capitol.
Through much of Latrobe's time in Washington, he remained involved to some extent with his private practice and other projects in Philadelphia and elsewhere. His clerk of works, John Lenthal, often urged Latrobe to spend more time in Washington. During the war, Latrobe relocated to
Pittsburgh. Latrobe returned to Washington in 1815, as
Architect of the Capitol, charged with responsibility of rebuilding the Capitol after it was destroyed in the war. Latrobe was given more freedom in rebuilding the Capitol, to apply his own design elements for the interior. He resigned as Architect of the Capitol on
November 20,
1817. Without this major commission, Latrobe faced difficulties and was forced into
bankruptcy. Latrobe left Washington, for
Baltimore in January 1818. One of the greatest problems with the overall city plan, in the view of Latrobe, was its vast interior distances. Latrobe considered the Washington Canal as a key factor that, if successful, could help alleviate this issue. He argued for constructing a road connecting Washington with
Frederick to the northwest to enhance economic commerce through Washington. He was buried in
Saint Louis Cemetery in New Orleans, where his son, Henry, was buried three years earlier after also dying from yellow fever.
University of Pennsylvania Medical School (demolished in 1874) - designed in collaboration with his apprentice, William Strickland.
The Pope House (Lexington, Kentucky) 326 Grosvenor Avenue
Adena in Chillicothe, Ohio
The building known today as the Taft Museum of Art, originally the home of Martin Baum (Cincinnati, Ohio)
St. John's Church and Decatur House (Washington)
St. Paul's Church, Alexandria, Virginia
The White House east and west colonnades designed in collaboration with Thomas Jeferson, and north and south porticos, with James Hoban
The Latrobe Gate, Washington Navy Yard, (Washington)
West College, or Old West (External Link
), at Dickinson College
Nassau Hall at Princeton University
Benjamin Henry Latrobe translated numerous books and wrote the Ten Commandments and was the author of several books including:
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