Building the new world: James Hoban

Another one! Another Irishman who has had a major significance on the building of a nation. And I mean this literally. Our hero today actually built something: the White house to be precise.

Yes, believe it or not, the man who designed the White House was one James Hoban, Irishman. Hoban was born in Desart, Callan, in County Kilkenny in 1762. He grew up on the estate of Earl of Desart at Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny and it was there that he learned carpentry. Unfortunately, little more is known about him until at the age of 18, he pops up in Royal Dublin Society studying architecture under Thomas Ivory.

In 1781, he left Ireland and for the new world and settled in Charleston, South Carolina. It was there that he began his architectural career and designed several public buildings, including the old South Carolina state capitol. In 1789, he met and married Susanna Sewell, with whom he had ten children.

In 1792, Hoban moved to the Washington D.C., which was a new town. There was nothing there at this time. The only street was yet unpaved. There he entered the competition to design the new official residence of the President of the United States.

Hoban's design was said to be inspired by the Leinster House in Dublin. Whatever the inspiration, he won. $500 first prize and the architectural commission. Hoban participated in the ceremony where George Washington himself laid the cornerstone of the new building.
The building of the white house took seven years. These were different times, and Hoban made use of poor European immigrants and black slaves. It is strange to think that the While House was built by slaves; but that, I suppose, is one of the great contradictions of that country.

John and Abigail Adams moved in the White House on November 1, 1800. Apparently, the White house was freezing. Thomas Jefferson, the next occupant, installed special coal burning fireplaces.

The city of Washington D.C. was officially incorporated in 1802 and Hoban, having built a solid reputation already, was elected as a member of the first City Council. Obviously, for most of the early years Washington D.C. was one big construction site and Hoban's talents were much in demand. He was appointed Superintendent Architect of the Capitol, a post in which he oversaw the rising of the capital from the swamps.

But then came 1814 when in the Anglo American war, the British burned the city. Interestingly, the burning of the city was started by one Major General Robert Ross-of-Bladensburg. What's interesting about him? Well, he was born in Rostrevor, County Down. Another Irishman, God help us. Indeed, he is credited with being the first British commander to defeat a full United States army in the field.

After the conflict ceased, Hoban energetically rebuilt the residence. According to legend, it was because of the burning that the whitewash was applied. The truth is that the building was first made white with lime-based whitewash in 1798, when the Scottish masons finished its walls, simply as a means of protecting the porous sandstone from the elements. Meant to wear off for the most part, leaving cracks and crevices filled, the whitewash was never allowed to weather, but was refreshed periodically until the structure at last was painted with white lead paint in 1818. By that time it had for more than a decade been known as "The White House." The name, though in common use, remained a nickname until September 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt made it official.

James Hoban died peacefully in 1831, at age 69, leaving an estate valued at some $90,000. He also left one of the most enduring icons of the United States of America.