Which Irish-born architect designed the White House in Washington, D.C.?

The Irish-born architect who designed the White House in Washington, D.C., was James Hoban.

Hoban was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1755 and trained in architectural drawing at the Dublin Society of Arts. After emigrating to the United States, he established an architectural career in Charleston, South Carolina. President George Washington encountered Hoban’s work during his Southern Tour and later invited him to Philadelphia, then the national capital.

In 1792, Hoban won the design competition for the president’s residence. Construction began that year and the building was completed in 1800. Its neoclassical design was influenced by European architectural traditions, especially Leinster House in Dublin. Benjamin Henry Latrobe later advised on alterations, but Hoban is the architect credited with the original design.

British forces burned the building during the War of 1812 in 1814. Hoban returned to supervise its reconstruction and later oversaw additions including the South Portico in 1824 and the North Portico in 1829. The building was not consistently called the White House until later in the nineteenth century.