Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764-1820) was a British-American architect who left a significant mark on the architectural landscape of early America. After moving from England to the United States in 1796, he became one of the first professional architects in the nation. Among his most notable works are the United States Capitol, where he designed the House and Senate chambers, and the Baltimore Basilica, the first Roman Catholic cathedral in the country.Latrobe's designs were influenced by his experiences in Italy and his studies of European architecture, particularly the Neoclassical style. He introduced Greek Revival architecture to America and crafted several important buildings, including the Merchants' Exchange in Baltimore and Decatur House in Washington, D.C. In his later years, he worked on a waterworks project in New Orleans, where he ultimately succumbed to yellow fever in 1820.
