George Hadfield (1763 – 6 February 1826[1]) 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,[2] and continued in that position until June 1798, resigning after an argument with William Thornton.[3][4] He is credited with part of the design of the original Capitol building such as the north wing,[5][6][7] but little of the related papers remain.
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.[23]
Gallery
District of Columbia City Hall
Van Ness Mausoleum
Front view of Arlington House
Commandant of the Marine Corps' house at 8th & I SE
^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.
^William W. Warner, At Peace with All Their Neighbors: Catholics and Catholicism in the Nation's Capital, 1787-1860 (Georgetown University Press), pp. 126-27.
^Historical 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.
^Bednar, Michael J. (2006). L'Enfant's Legacy: Public Open Spaces in Washington, D.C. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 122. ISBN0-8018-8318-0. Retrieved 19 January 2008. According 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.