james hoban: The Irishman who designed
the white house How the son of an Irish tenant farmer rose from journeyman carpenter to become the architect of the world’s most famous house words dolores o ’ donoghue
J
ames Hoban, born in 1758, was the son of an impoverished tenant farmer on the estate of Otway Cuffe, the Earl of Desart near Callan, Kilkenny. Luckily, this particular landlord was of a more enlightened disposition than most and provided a basic education for the children of his tenants at a school on the estate. The school also offered tutoring in carpentry, wheelwright skills and stonemasonry, which Hoban took advantage of. These skills would no doubt be useful to him in what was assumed would be his future as a tenant or tradesman on the estate. James had a great talent for drawing and design and, under the patronage of the Earl, attended the Dublin Society’s Drawing School. Here his work won him the prestigious Duke of Leinster medal and also impressed Thomas Ivory, the school’s principal. Ivory also had a private design practice and Hoban worked with him on the construction of notable Irish buildings such as Dublin’s City Hall and the Custom House. Although beginning to make a name for himself in Ireland, he decided to emigrate to America in 1785. In 1792, at President George Washington’s request, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson announced an architectural competition to produce design drawings for a new home for America’s president. Having established himself as the architect of many fine homes and public buildings, including the Charleston County Courthouse, Hoban entered the competition. As he set about this challenge, he looked to his native country for inspiration. He looked to the work of his mentor, Thomas Ivory, to that of Edward Lovett Pearse and most especially to Richard Cassel’s design of Leinster House. In July 1792, George Washington and three commissioners reviewed the entries and selected Hoban’s design for the executive mansion.
46 SUMMER 2021 ANTHOLOGY
top left: 1981 stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of Hoban’s death; left: A letter written by James Hoban to the Commissioners of the Federal City on 3 November 1792. The letter outlines Hoban’s initial requests for lumber, stone, and nails to begin construction on the President’s House.
‘In July 1792, George Washington and three commissioners reviewed the entries and selected Hoban’s design for the executive mansion’
