Works by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, a British-born architect, were influenced by Greek Revival styles and those of British architect John Soane. Latrobe emigrated to the United States, living initially in Virginia, then in Philadelphia, before being hired to work on government projects in Washington, D.C. His works most notably included the central portion of the United States Capitol, along with designing the porticoes of the White House. He also designed numerous houses and other buildings.

Latrobe worked on various engineering projects, as well, including the Philadelphia waterworks, along with projects in New Orleans where he spent the last years of his life. He wrote quite a bit, including extensive notes in his journals, which have since been published, and he translated works by others.

Architecture Latrobe's many architectural works include:

Work Place Year Notes Image Hammerwood Park East Grinstead, UK 1792 Ashdown House East Sussex, UK 1793 William Pennock House Norfolk, Virginia 1796 Virginia State Penitentiary Richmond, Virginia 1797–1798 Gamble Hill (Col. John Harvie's home) Richmond 1798 Bank of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1798–1801 First major Greek Revival building in the United States. Sedgeley Philadelphia 1799–1802 Built for William Cramond on the Schuylkill River, but the mansion fell into disrepair after 1836 when it was subdivided. It was demolished in 1857, and the land is now part of Fairmount Park. A tenant's cottage build along with the mansion remains in existence — the cottage is the only remaining building in Philadelphia designed by Latrobe. Sansom's Buildings Philadelphia 1800–1801 with Thomas Carstairs Edward Shippen Burd House Philadelphia 1801–1802 Located at Chestnut and 9th Street; Architectural characteristics similar to the Admiralty House in London, designed by Samuel Pepys Cockerell. Nassau Hall Princeton, New Jersey 1802 Originally designed by Robert Smith, and for a period in 1783, it hosted the Congress of the Confederation. The building was later redesigned by Latrobe, after a fire destroyed the building, though it was destroyed once again by fire in 1855 and rebuilt by Philadelphia architect John Notman. Stanhope Hall Princeton, New Jersey 1803 The third building of Princeton University's campus and originally home to the library, study halls, and literary societies. Later known as "Geological Hall," in 1915 it was named in honor of Samuel Stanhope Smith, president of the university at the time of its construction. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Baltimore 1806–1821 First Catholic Cathedral built in the United States Waln House Philadelphia 1807–1808 Clifton House Richmond, Virginia 1808 Built for Benjamin James Harris, the house featured squarish-dimensions and a central, multi-story hall with a cupola to provide lighting. Markoe House Philadelphia 1808–1811 Built for John Markoe, who later sold it and it was used as a boarding house until the 1880s when it was demolished. Long Branch Millwood, Virginia 1811 Built for Robert Carter Burwell Portico of Belleview Washington, D.C. 1813 Ashland Lexington, Kentucky 1813 Built two wings onto the home. Brentwood Washington, D.C. 1817 Florida Avenue and 6th St NE; Destroyed by fire in 1917 Van Ness Mansion Washington, D.C. 1813–1818 Later demolished Christ Church Washington, D.C. 1807 The building used by the city's first Episcopal parish was designed in the Gothic Revival style. Decatur House Washington, D.C. 1818 Located on Jackson Place United States Capitol Washington, D.C. Central portion only, including original low dome Davidge Hall Baltimore The building known today as Davidge Hall, completed in 1812, is part of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It is the oldest building in the Northern Hemisphere in continuous use for medical education. University of Pennsylvania Medical School Philadelphia Designed in collaboration with his apprentice, William Strickland; Demolished in 1874. Pope Villa Lexington, Kentucky 1811–1812 326 Grosvenor Avenue; The house was the first to incorporate an English basement. Adena Mansion Chillicothe, Ohio 1806 Taft Museum of Art Cincinnati 1820 Originally the home of Martin Baum St. John's Church Washington, D.C. 1816 St. Paul's Church Alexandria, Virginia 1818 Alexandria, VA - Historic Alexandria - Historic Preservation: Sites on the National Register of Historic PlacesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church The White House east and west colonnades Washington, D.C. Designed in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson, and north and south porticos, with James Hoban Latrobe Gate, Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C. 1806 Believed to be the oldest extant example of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. West College, or Old West at Dickinson College Carlisle, Pennsylvania 1803 Belvidere Belmont, New York 1804 Built in 1804 from plans attributed to Latrobe. See also: and

Writing Benjamin Henry Latrobe authored several books and translated others, including: Characteristic Anecdotes ... to Illustrate the Character of Frederick the Great (1788) Authentic Elucidation of the History of Counts Struensee [sic] and Brandt and of the Revolution in Denmark in the Year 1772 (1789)

James Bruce hired Latrobe in 1790 to help put together Travels, a memoir of Bruce's journeys in Africa.

After he arrived in the United States, Latrobe befriended Constantin-François Chassebœuf, comte de Volney, who stimulated an interest in geology. Latrobe kept numerous journals with geological notes and published a number of papers, including "Memoir on the Sand Hills of Cape Henry" (1799), Transactions of the American Philosophical Society (vol. 4, pp 439–44).

Notes

References

Van Horne, John C., et al., eds. The Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 3 vols. Yale University Press, 1984-1988

External links