James Gallier
Encyclopedia
James Gallier was a prominent New Orleans architect.
He was born James Gallagher in Ravensdale, County Louth
, Ireland
in 1798. He worked in England during his early career, designing the Godmanchester Chinese Bridge
which crosses a mill stream of the River Great Ouse
in 1827, and then working on the redevelopment of the Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair. He became bankrupt, and emigrated to America in 1832. He was one of a group of architects who created the idea of Architectural Practice, with the architect working for the clients, and managing those who actually built the structures that had been designed. He died on 3 October 1866, when the paddle-steamer Evening Star, on which he was travelling from New York to New Orleans, sank in a hurricane. His second wife perished with him.
His significant works that are National Historic Landmarks include:
His other significant works include:
In 1823, while in England, he met and married Elizabeth Tyler. Their only surviving child was James Gallier, Jr.
. Elizabeth died in July, 1844 in her mid-forties. On June 23, 1850, in Charleston, South Carolina
, he remarried to Catherine Maria Robinson of Mobile, Alabama
, who was born November 18, 1822 in Hardwick, Massachusetts
to Colonel Joseph Robinson and Ann Maria Ruggles Walton. She was 24 years his junior.
His son, James, was also an architect.
He was born James Gallagher in Ravensdale, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1798. He worked in England during his early career, designing the Godmanchester Chinese Bridge
Godmanchester Chinese Bridge
Godmanchester Chinese Bridge is a landmark of the town of Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire . It is a pedestrian bridge that spans a mill stream on the River Great Ouse and is, as the name suggests, built in an ostensibly Chinese style...
which crosses a mill stream of the River Great Ouse
River Great Ouse
The Great Ouse is a river in the east of England. At long, it is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The river has been important for navigation, and for draining the low-lying region through which it flows. Its course has been modified several times, with the first recorded being in...
in 1827, and then working on the redevelopment of the Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair. He became bankrupt, and emigrated to America in 1832. He was one of a group of architects who created the idea of Architectural Practice, with the architect working for the clients, and managing those who actually built the structures that had been designed. He died on 3 October 1866, when the paddle-steamer Evening Star, on which he was travelling from New York to New Orleans, sank in a hurricane. His second wife perished with him.
His significant works that are National Historic Landmarks include:
- Gallier HallGallier HallGallier Hall is a historic building on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the former New Orleans city hall, and continues in civic use....
on St. Charles Avenue (1853), at Lafeyette Square in the Central Business DistrictNew Orleans Central Business DistrictThe Central Business District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the French Quarter/CBD Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Iberville, Decatur and Canal Streets to the north, the Mississippi River to the east, the New Orleans Morial...
, the former City Hall of New Orleans for nearly a century. It is a National Historic Landmark. - Pontalba BuildingsPontalba BuildingsThe Pontalba Buildings form two sides of Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.These are matching red-brick block long 4‑story buildings built in the 1840s by the Baroness Micaela Almonester Pontalba...
, with Henry HowardHenry Howard-Nobles and politicians:*Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey , English aristocrat and poet*Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton , son of the Earl of Surrey*Henry Howard, 2nd Earl of Norfolk *Henry Howard, 5th Earl of Suffolk...
, a National Historic Landmark. - Government Street Presbyterian ChurchGovernment Street Presbyterian ChurchGovernment Street Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest and least-altered Greek Revival church buildings in the United States. The architectural design is by James Gallier, James Dakin, and Charles Dakin. The trio also designed Barton Academy, four blocks down Government Street to the west...
(1836), a National Historic Landmark in Mobile, AlabamaMobile, AlabamaMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
His other significant works include:
- The Leeds-Davis BuildingPreservation Resource CenterThe Preservation Resource Center is a non-profit organization which promotes the historic preservation of buildings and architecture in New Orleans.-Mission:New Orleans is a city famous for its architecture...
on Tchopitoulas Street (1853), Headquarters of the Preservation Resource Center. - The Second Christ Church CathedralChrist Church Cathedral, New OrleansChrist Church Cathedral, located today at 2919 St. Charles Avenue, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, was the first non-Roman Catholic church founded in the entire Louisiana Purchase territory...
on St. Charles AvenueSt. Charles AvenueSt. Charles Avenue is a thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. and the home of the St. Charles Streetcar Line. It is also famous for the hundreds of mansions that adorn the tree-lined boulevard for much of the Uptown section of the route. The southern live oak trees, particularly found in...
(1837), Episcopalian ChurchEpiscopal Diocese of LouisianaThe Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the eastern part of the state of Louisiana. The see city is New Orleans.-History:...
and later a synagogue. No longer exists. - Barton AcademyBarton AcademyBarton Academy is a historic Greek Revival school building located on Government Street in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was under construction from 1836 to 1839 and was designed by architects James H. Dakin, Charles B. Dakin, and James Gallier. Gallier and the Dakin brothers also designed...
(1836) in Mobile, Alabama. - Belle Helene (1850) in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.
In 1823, while in England, he met and married Elizabeth Tyler. Their only surviving child was James Gallier, Jr.
James Gallier, Jr.
James Gallier, Jr. was a prominent architect in New Orleans, Louisiana.He was born in 1829.His father, James Gallier was also a New Orleans architect.-Significant works:...
. Elizabeth died in July, 1844 in her mid-forties. On June 23, 1850, in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, he remarried to Catherine Maria Robinson of Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, who was born November 18, 1822 in Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about west of the city of Worcester. It had a population of 2,990 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Hardwick, Gilbertville, Wheelwright and Old Furnace.- History :...
to Colonel Joseph Robinson and Ann Maria Ruggles Walton. She was 24 years his junior.
His son, James, was also an architect.