Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (1764–1820)

English-born US architect. He was appointed surveyor of the US Capitol (1803–17) and supervised its construction, following William Thornton's plans, and making his own interior alterations. After the British burnt down the Capitol in 1814, he submitted new designs. Latrobe also designed numerous other buildings in Washington, DC, mastering the Federal style and spearheading the popularity of Greek Revival public architecture in America. His largest building was the Cathedral of the Assumption in Baltimore, Maryland (1805–21), the first vaulted church in the USA.

Latrobe was born in Fulneck, Yorkshire, England. Having trained in England as an engineer and then as an architect with Samuel Pepys Cockerell, Latrobe enjoyed a successful practice there before emigrating to the USA in 1795. His early work included the monumental Greek Revival Bank of Pennsylvania (1798–1800) and the earliest American city water system (1799–1801), both in Philadelphia.