Benjamin Henry Latrobe is widely regarded as the first professional architect in the United States. Latrobe was educated in England and Germany, possessing a classical education as well as training in architecture. As a widower, he immigrated to America in 1795 to pursue a career as an architect. He settled in Richmond, Virginia, and soon made acquaintance with members of the Washington family, before later moving to Philadelphia. Although Latrobe found employment scarce at first, he eventually was hired to design such prominent buildings as The Bank of Pennsylvania and the projects related to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Visit to Mount Vernon
Latrobe was a good friend of George Washington's nephew, Bushrod Washington who provided Latrobe with a letter of introduction to facilitate a visit at Mount Vernon. Latrobe arrived at Mount Vernon on the morning of July 16, 1796 with Bushrod's letter of introduction in hand. George Washington came to greet Latrobe about ten minutes after he arrived and the two sat down in the portico to talk. In the next two hours, the pair spoke about a variety of topics, including life in Virginia, the proposed canal to be built near the Dismal Swamp, coal mines on the James River, and the silver mine at Rockett's Landing. Before departing, Washington invited Latrobe to stay for dinner. Latrobe wandered the Estate and took sketches in the next few hours before returning for dinner.1
Dinner was served that day at three-thirty, half an hour later than usual. The family hoped that Tobias Lear would be able to return from Alexandria to join them for dinner. However, Lear did not arrive, and Latrobe sat down to dine with George and Martha Washington, Nelly Custis, Georges Washington Lafayette (the Marquis de Lafayette's son who was living at Mount Vernon), and Lafayette's elderly French tutor, Felix Frestal.2
Latrobe noted that there was very little conversation at dinner with the exception of jokes that Washington exchanged with the young Lafayette. Coffee was brought to the family on the portico at about six, where Washington continued to converse with Latrobe. During this later conversation, the two discussed the cultivation of Indian corn, the effects of Hessian flies on crops, diets of enslaved people, and the use of ploughs. Washington retired at around eight and Latrobe followed soon thereafter, having been invited by both Martha and George Washington to spend the night. 3 Following his visit, Latrobe arranged for a plow he recommended to be delivered to Washington.4
Career
Latrobe’s career was defined by efforts to create an American style using elements of Greek-revival and neo-classical architecture defined by the use of columns and porticos. Throughout his career he designed well-known buildings, but also numerous others such as hospitals, schools, monuments, courthouses, churches, and jails.
His first public commission was a penitentiary for the state of Virginia, but he continued onto larger projects including the Bank of Pennsylvania and developing a city water system in the same city. He desired to be commissioned for large residential projects, but instead found he was in higher demand for municipal and government related structures.
Through his friendship with Thomas Jefferson, he was appointed to Architect of the Capitol from 1803 to 1811. He designed the President’s house and Capitol in Washington, D.C. These structures boasted neo-classical styles, and Latrobe desired grand structures such as the Rotunda to be named the “People’s Hall.” In this position, Latrobe surveyed the city to plan the location for roads and the creation of canals to develop the nation’s new capital. In doing so, he communicated often with President Jefferson about appropriate budgets and legislation needed to compete projects.5
After failed business endeavors in the steamboat industry and time in debtors’ prison, Latrobe returned to Washington, D.C. in 1812 to assist in reconstructing the capital, but was quickly removed from the position after disputes. He died in New Orleans in 1820 while completing a waterworks for the city.
Updated by Zoie Horecny, Ph.D., 9 April 2025
Notes:
1. Benjamin Henry Latrobe and John Hazlehurst Boneval Latrobe. The Journal of Latrobe: Being the Notes and Sketches of an Architect, Naturalist, and Traveler in the United States from 1796 to 1820, Issue 8. D. Appleton. 50-63
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid
4. “To George Washington from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 August 1796,” Founders Online, National Archives.
5. “To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin H. Latrobe, 29 March 1804,” Founders Online, National Archives.
Bibliography:
Baker, Jean H. Building America: The life of Benjamin Henry Latrobe. Oxford University Press, 2020.
Latrobe, Benjamin Henry and John Hazlehurst Boneval Latrobe. The Journal of Latrobe: Being the Notes and Sketches of an Architect, Naturalist, and Traveler in the United States from 1796 to 1820, Issue 8. D. Appleton.
