Not only were Catholics—L’Enfant, the Frenchman, and Dermott, the
Irishman—the planners of the Federal City, Washington, but a Catholic,
James Hoban, a native of Ireland, was the architect and builder of the
president’s palace, as it was first called, the president’s house as
later designated, but better known as the White House.
Hoban was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1758. When only twenty-two years
old he won a medal from the Dublin Society for “drawings of brackets,
stairs, roof, etc.” It is now in possession of his grandson, James
Hoban, of Washington. He came to this country after the revolution and
soon became known as an architect and builder.
When, in 1791, Washington visited South Carolina, writes Mr. Griffin,
Colonel Laurens and others recommended to him the abilities as an
architect and the executive worth of James Hoban, the Kilkenny Irishman,
who had, since his arrival, added to the growth and adornment of the
neighborhood by the exercise of that skill and ingenuity which the new
country so much needed.
Mr. Hoban went to Washington city and submitted to the commissioners a
plan for the president’s palace. His plan was accepted immediately and
without hesitation after a view of the drawings which were submitted.
Hoban’s plan of the president’s palace being adopted, the selection of
the site on which to erect it required the personal attention of
Washington himself. So on August 2, 1792, the commissioners and
President Washington “viewed the ground, particularly at the place for
the palace. It has given him considerable trouble and difficulty to fix
his mind,” wrote the commissioners.
Hoban’s design of the president’s house contemplated a central building
with wings. The central portion was executed according to his designs
and under his supervision (we are told he received 300 guineas a year
for his services)—both before and after the damage by the British in
1814. The north portico was not completed until 1820, and then according
to Hoban’s plan. Its popular name of the White House is due to his
thought of painting the brownstone fronting the exterior walls to
conceal the discoloration by smoke and fire.
Cornelius McDermott Roe, Patrick McDermott Roe and John Delahunty had
the contract for all the brick and stone work on the president’s house
for one season, and John Kearney did all the plastering on the capitol.
Thus far in our investigations we have found that a Catholic was one of
the commissioners; that two Catholics planned the city; that a Catholic
designed and built the president’s house and also superintended the
erection of the capitol, which three Catholics contracted to build, and
another did the plastering, while Patrick Whalen dug the cellar. Surely
Irish Catholics seem to have had a goodly share in the foundation of the
Capital City.
Mr. Hoban died on December 9, 1831, and was buried in St. Patrick’s
Cemetery. In May, 1863, his grandson and namesake, James Hoban, Esq.,
purchased a lot in Mount Olivet Cemetery, near Washington, and the
remains of James Hoban and others of the family were removed thereto.