George Hadfield (1763 – 6 February 1826) was born in Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, of English parents, who were hotel keepers. He studied at the Royal Academy, and worked with James Wyatt for six years before emigrating to the United States. He was the brother of painter, musician, and educator Maria Cosway.
Life and career He was appointed superintendent of the United States Capitol's construction on 15 October 1795, and continued in that position until June 1798, resigning after an argument with William Thornton.Tatman.Bryan, pp 314–315, states that it was 28 May 1798, and that Hadfield said he had not been paid for plans for the state and war office buildings. He is credited with part of the design of the original Capitol building such as the north wing,Dunlap, page 336.Bryan, pages 315–318. Bryan gives some of the background, noting that until Hadfield's discharge, all of the detailed working drawings were done by Hallett or Hadfield, and that Thornton started to produce detailed drawings after this point after failing to obtain them from Hallett.Two of the pictures here are said to be based on Hadfield's designs. but little of the related papers remain.
He is buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
List of works Original Treasury Department building, drew plans in 1798, completed in 1800; partially destroyed by fire in 1801 and burned by British forces in 1814William W. Warner, At Peace with All Their Neighbors: Catholics and Catholicism in the Nation's Capital, 1787-1860 (Georgetown University Press), pp. 126-27. Navy Department, 1800Historical marker for the Old Executive Office Building which replaced this in 1871 says it was designed in 1797, and that James Hoban designed the War Department. Washington Jail, 1801, later converted to a hospital, burned in 1861According to Bednar, the jail was built in 1802, a two-story brick building, which was used for the Washington Infirmary Hospital after 1853, until it burned in 1861. Marine Corps Commandant's House, 1801–1805 Arlington House (Custis-Lee Mansion), 1818Moeller, page 337. District of Columbia City Hall, 1820Gutheim, page 45. Van Ness Mausoleum
Possible works Historic HuntleySee historical marker.
Other There are other works. However they are not easily identified, since they are not in the Greek Revival style. For example, Hadfield is credited with alterations to The Octagon House.Moeller, pages 176–177.
Gallery
See also Étienne Sulpice Hallet James Hoban Benjamin Latrobe
Notes
References
External links Historical Marker for Executive Office Building Historical Marker for Huntley