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Benjamin Latrobe

[luh-trohb]

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. Latrobe came to the United States in 1796, settling first in Virginia and then relocating to Philadelphia where he set up his practice. In 1803, he was hired as Surveyor of the Public Buildings of the United States, and spent much of the next fourteen years working on projects in Washington, D.C. Later in his life, Latrobe worked on a waterworks project in New Orleans, where he ended up dying in 1820 from yellow fever. He has been called the "Father of American Architecture".

Biography

Early life

Benjamin Henry Latrobe was born in 1764 at the Fulneck Moravian Settlement, near Pudsey in West Yorkshire, England, to Reverend Benjamin Latrobe and Anna Margaretta Antes. 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. His mother inspired curiosity and interest in America, and from his father, Latrobe saw the importance of education and scholarship and the value of social exchange.

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. Latrobe was severely injured while serving in the army, and thereafter he left the army. After recovering from his injuries, he embarked on a continental Grand Tour, visiting eastern Saxony, Paris, Italy, and other places. 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). Then in 1787 (or 1788), he entered apprenticeship with the eminent neoclassical architect S.P. Cockerell where he served for a brief time before leaving to practice the profession. 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. Latrobe was commissioned to design Hammerwood Park, near East Grinstead in Sussex, which was his first independent work in 1792. 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. Lydia had inherited her father's wealth, which in turn was to be left to the children. The money was to be paid through a trust with the children's uncles who ended up never giving the inheritance to the children. In 1795, after bankruptcy, his wife's death, and losing custody of his child, he emigrated to America. After a four month journey, Latrobe arrived in Norfolk, Virginia on March 20, 1796.

United States

Latrobe remained in Virginia, spending time in Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia, until November 1798 when he moved to Philadelphia. In Virginia, Latrobe became friends with Bushrod Washington, Edmund Randolph, and other notable figures. 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. This commission is what convinced him to set up his practice in Philadelphia, where he developed his reputation. 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.

Influences

In his travels around Europe and the United States Latrobe collected ideas and developed urban planning principles regarding how American cities should be designed and their location. Public health was a key consideration of Latrobe. 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. He also suggested city blocks be laid out as thin rectangles, with the long side of the blocks oriented east-west so that as many houses as possible could be facing in the southerly direction. For a city to succeed, he thought it needed to be established only in places with good prospects for commerce and industrial growth, and with a good water supply. Latrobe favored Classical or Vitruvian designs, over Baroque designs.

Washington, D.C.

In the United States, he soon achieved eminence as the first professional architect working in the country. 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.

Works

As chief surveyor, Latrobe was also responsible for the Washington Canal. 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 also designed the main gate of the Washington Navy Yard.

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 would not 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.

In June 1812, construction in the capital came to a halt with the outbreak of the War of 1812 and the failure of the First Bank of the United States. 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.

By 1817, Latrobe had provided President James Monroe with complete drawings for the entire building. 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.

Criticisms

Latrobe left Washington with pessimism, with the city's design contradicting many of his ideals. Latrobe disliked the Baroque-style plan for the city, and other aspects of L'Enfant's plan, and resented having to conform to Thornton's plans for the Capitol Building. 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. Latrobe also had concerns about the city's economic potential. He argued for constructing a road connecting Washington with Frederick to the northwest to enhance economic commerce through Washington.

Later life

Baltimore

In the early 1800s, Latrobe was commissioned to build the first Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States of America, by the U.S.A.'s first Roman Catholic Bishop, John Carroll. Construction of the Baltimore Basilica was begun in 1806, and finally completed in 1821, after financial setbacks interrupted the building of the Cathedral for a number of years.

Other works

In 1814 Latrobe partnered with Robert Fulton in a steamship venture based at Pittsburgh. In 1811, the first Mississippi steamboat "New Orleans", built in Pittsburgh, had as passengers Latrobe's daughter, and her husband, the steamboat's builder, Nicholas Roosevelt, a great uncle of U.S.A. President Theodore Roosevelt. While in Pittsburgh, Latrobe designed and built a theatre for the Circus of Pepin and Breschard.

As an engineer, he worked with his son (Henry Sellon Boneval Latrobe), for a scheme for steam powered pumps to help de-salt water for New Orleans, Louisiana.

Death

Latrobe died in 1820 from yellow fever, while working in New Orleans on the waterworks project. 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.

Works

Latrobe's many architectural works include:

The United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
America's first Catholic Cathedral, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore, Maryland
The building known today as Davidge Hall, completed in 1812 in Baltimore, Maryland, part of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the oldest building in the Northern Hemisphere in continuous use for medical education.
University of Pennsylvania Medical School (demolished in 1874) - designed in collaboration with his apprentice, William Strickland.
The Pope Villa (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 , 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:

Latrobe, Benjamin (1774). A Brief Account of the Mission Established among th Esquimaux Indians on the Coast of Labrador.

Notes

References

Carter II, Edward C. "Benjamin Henry Latrobe and the Growth and Development of Washington, 1798-1818". Records of the Columbia Historical Society
Dumbauld, Edward "Thomas Jefferson and the City of Washington". Records of the Columbia Historical Society 50 p. 75.
Formwalt, Lee W. "Benjamin Henry Latrobe and the Development of Transportation in the District of Columbia, 1802-1817". Records of the Columbia Historical Society 50
Frary, Ihna Thayer (1969). They Built the Capitol. Ayer Publishing.
Hamlin, Talbot (1955). Benjamin Henry Latrobe. Oxford University Press.
Kennedy, Roger G. (1989). Orders from France. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (1905). The Journal of Latrobe. D. Appleton & Company.
Tatum, George B. (1961). Penn's Great Town: 250 Years of Philadelphia Architecture Illustrated in Prints and Drawings.. University of Pennsylvania Press.