James Hoban

James Hoban (c.  1758  – December 8, 1831) was an Irish architect, best known for designing the White House in Washington, D.C.

Contents
[hide]  *1 Life ==Life == James Hoban was raised on an estate belonging to the Earl of Desart in Cuffesgrange, near Callan in County Kilkenny. He worked there as a wheelwright and carpenter until his early twenties, when he was given an 'advanced student' place in the Dublin Society's Drawing School on Lower Grafton Street.
 * 2 Selected Work
 * 2.1 Attributed Buildings
 * 2.2 Demolished Buildings
 * 3 Commemorations
 * 4 See also
 * 5 References
 * 6 Further reading

He excelled in his studies and received the prestigious Duke of Leinster's medal for drawings of "Brackets, Stairs, and Roofs." from the Dublin Society in 1780. Later Hoban found a position as an apprentice to the headmaster of the Dublin Society School the Cork-born architect Thomas Ivory from 1779? to 1785.

Following the American Revolutionary War, Hoban immigrated to the United States, and established himself as an architect in Philadelphia in 1785.[1] Charleston County Courthouse, Charleston, SC (1790-92), James Hoban, architect.Hoban's amended elevation of the White House (late-1793 or early-1794).Hoban was in South Carolina by April 1787, where he designed numerous buildings including the Charleston County Courthouse (1790–92), built on the ruins of the former South Carolina Statehouse (1753, burned 1788).[2]  President Washington admired Hoban's work on his Southern Tour, may have met with him in Charleston in May 1791, and summoned the architect to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the temporary national capital) in June 1792.[3]

In July 1792, Hoban was named winner of the design competition for the White House.[4]  His initial design seems to have had a 3-story facade, 9 bays across (like the Charleston courthouse). Under Washington's influence, Hoban amended this to a 2-story facade, 11 bays across, and, at Washington's insistence, the whole presidential mansion was faced with stone. It is unclear whether any of Hoban's surviving drawings are actually from the competition.[5]

Hoban was also one of the supervising architects who served on the Capitol, carrying out the design of Dr. William Thornton.

Hoban lived the rest of his life in Washington, D.C., where he worked on other public buildings and government projects, including roads and bridges.[6] He also designed Rossenarra House near the village of Kilmoganny in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1824.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Hoban's wife Susanna Sewall was the daughter of the prominent Georgetown "City Tavern" proprietor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Hoban was also involved in the development of Catholic institutions in the city, including Georgetown University (where his son was a member of theJesuit community), St. Patrick's Parish, and the Visitation Convent founded by another Kilkenny native, Teresa Lalor of Ballyragget.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Hoban died in Washington, D.C. on December 8, 1831. He is buried at historic Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C. ==Selected Work<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> == <p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Little has been published to catalogue Hoban's architectural work. Considering his stature as the architect of the White House, the number of his landmark buildings that have been lost is surprising. ===Attributed Buildings<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> === ===Demolished Buildings<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> === ==Commemorations<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> == <p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Numerous events were held around 2008 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of his birth.
 * Charleston County Courthouse, 82-86 Broad Street, Charleston, SC (1790–92).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  A likely model for the White House's main facade.
 * The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. - (1792–1800). Following the 1814 burning of the White House, Hoban rebuilt the Southern Portico for President James Monroe (1824), and the Northern Portico for President Andrew Jackson (1829).
 * "Prospect Hill" (Ephraim Baynard mansion), Prospect Hill Plantation, 2695 Laurel Hill Road, Edisto Island, SC 29438 - circa 1790.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]  (Attributed to Hoban.)
 * First Bank of the United States, Third Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA - 1795.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13]  (Samuel Blodgett is the credited designer, but some attribute it to James Hoban.)
 * McCleery House, 1068 Thirtieth St. NW, Georgetown, Washington, DC, circa l800.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]  (With many fine significant interior details, reputedly designed by James Hoban).
 * The William Seabrook House, Edisto Island, SC - completed 1810.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  (Attributed to Hoban.)
 * "Baum-Taft House (Taft Museum of Art), 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH - 1820.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16]  (Attributed to Hoban.)
 * "Oak Hill" (President James Monroe mansion), Leesburg, VA - 1820. (Monroe sought the advice of both Hoban and Thomas Jefferson on the design of his mansion.)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17]
 * Rossenarra House, near the village of Kilmaganny, Ireland - 1824. (Attributed to Hoban).
 * Belcamp house - Belcamp College, Malahide road, Dublin 17, Built complete with "oval office" . The college was Established around it in 1893 as a juniorate for the Oblate Fathers, It was built onto the original house but the house still stands intact today. A mini White House, and an overlooked piece of history.
 * Blodget's Union Public Hotel (AKA Blodget's Lottery Hotel), site of the first General Post Office of the United States, northeast corner of 8th and E Streets, Washington, D.C. - 1783 (Demolished in 1856)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[18]
 * Wye Hall (John Paca mansion), Wye Island directly opposite Wye Plantation, Maryland - circa 1787 (Demolished 1789)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[19]
 * South Carolina State House, Columbia, S.C. - 1790 (burned 1865)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[21]
 * The Charleston Theatre, New and Broad Streets, Charleston, S.C. - 1792 (Demolished)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[22]
 * Northeast Executive Building, Fifteenth Street, near The White House (Demolished)
 * Market House (AKA "Marsh Market"), Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street, Washington, D.C. - 1801 (Demolished)
 * St. Patrick’s Church, Corner of 14th and H Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. (Demolished. Now the site of the old Grand Lodge building)
 * St Mary's Chapel (AKA Barry's Chapel), Roman Catholic parish church, 10th and F Streets, Washington, D.C. - 1806 (Demolished; its cornerstone was saved, and is now inserted in the outer wall of the Holy Name Chapel, the Church of St. Dominic.)

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">In 2008, a memorial arbor to honor James Hoban was completed near his birthplace, and a major exhibition on his life took take place at the White House Visitor Center.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[23]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Dublin Made Him..., a one day colloquium in honour of Hoban, took place on October 3, 2008, at the (RDS) in Dublin, Ireland.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RoyalDublinSociety1_24-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[24]  It was presented by the RDS in association with the White House Historical Association, the U.S. Embassy in Ireland, and the James Hoban Societies of the U.S. and Ireland.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">The Irish-American group Solas have a song "John Riordan's Heels/The Bath Jig/Hoban's White House" on their album For Love and Laughter. Group member Mick McAuley, like Hoban, is from Kilkenny, and named the song in Hoban's honor. ==See also<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> == ==References<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> == ==Further reading<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.25em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;direction:ltr;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="margin-left:-0.25em;margin-right:0.25em;color:rgb(85,85,85);"> ==
 * John Henry Devereux South Carolina architect
 * List of people on stamps of Ireland
 * 1) ^ Frary, page 27
 * 2) ^ History of the Charleston County Courthouse from HMdb.org
 * 3) ^ William Seale, "James Hoban: Builder of the White House" in White House History no. 22 (Spring 2008), pp. 8-12.
 * 4) ^ Bryan, page 194–195.
 * 5) ^ Commissioners of the District of Columbia, Record Group 42, National Archives, cited in Seale, pp. 10-16.
 * 6) ^ Frary, page 28.
 * 7) ^  "City Tavern Club V2's Tenant Handbook:History of the Club". 72.32.212.225. 17 January 1981. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
 * 8) ^  "Playing with knives and fire - Biography of Mrs. James Hoban - Susanna Sewell". Ren-flora.livejournal.com. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
 * 9) ^ Charleston County Courthouse from HABS.
 * 10) ^ National Register Form
 * 11) ^ Edisto Island 1663 to 1860: Wild Eden to Cotton Aristocracy, Charles Spencer; p. 159
 * 12) ^ “ James Hoban and the First Bank of the United States”, Matthew Baigell, The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 28, No. 2 (May, 1969), pp. 135-136.
 * 13) ^ American architecture 1607-1976, Marcus Whiffen, Frederick Koeper, p. 125
 * 14) ^ McCleery House from Historic American Buildings Survey
 * 15) ^ Edisto: A Guide to Life on the Island, Cantey Wright; p. 35-37 (with photographs)
 * 16) ^ TR and Will; A Friendship that Split the Republican Party, by William Manners; p. 335
 * 17) ^  "Oak Hill". Nps.gov. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
 * 18) ^ Keim's Illustrated Hand-book: Washington and Its Environs, De Benneville Randolph Keim, p. 153
 * 19) ^ Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State, Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Maryland. p. 418
 * 20) ^ The Encyclopedia Americana: The International Reference Work, Volume 7; p. 336
 * 21) ^ Columbia: History of a Southern Capital, Lynn Salsi, Margaret Sims; p, 27
 * 22) ^ The Buildings of Charleston: A Guide to the City's Architecture, Jonathan H. Poston, p. 321
 * 23) ^  "The James Hoban Colloquium and Official Opening of the James Hoban Memorial Arbor, October 3–5, 2008". The James Hoban Commemoration.
 * 24) ^ Royal Dublin Society


 * Bergin, Denis (2008). "The James Hoban Commemoration 2008". Retrieved 2008-05-06
 * Bryan, Wilhelmus Bogart (1914). A History of the National Capital. The Macmillan company. Retrieved 2008-01-17
 * Frary, Ihna Thayer (1969). They Built the Capitol. Ayer Publishing. ISBN 0-8369-5089-5.
 * Ravenel, Beatrice St. Julien (1904-1990); Julien, Carl (photographs); Carolina Art Association (1992). Architects of Charleston. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press. p. 295.ISBN 0-87249-828-X. LCCN 91034126.
 * Wells, John E.; Dalton, Robert E. (1992). The South Carolina architects, 1885–1935: a biographical dictionary. Richmond, Virginia: New South Architectural Press. ISBN 1-882595-00-9.