The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793

Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, LEED AP, Acting Architect of the Capitol
Portrait of Stephen T. Ayers	Voice of America in Washington, D.C., as a General Engineer in 1991. In 1992 he transferred to Rhodes, Greece, to lead construction efforts. 1997 he joined the Architect of the Capitol as an Assistant Superintendent for the Senate Office Buildings. In 1999, he was promoted to Deputy Superintendent. October 2005, Mr. Ayers was appointed as the Acting Deputy Architect/Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Dr. William Thornton
Portrait By George B. Matthews, 1930, after Gilbert Stuart	Born: May 20, 1759, Jost van Dyke, West Indies Died: March 28, 1828, Washington, D.C. Design selected by President George Washington, 1793; appointed a commissioner of the federal city by President Washington, 1794, and served until 1802 During the first decade of work on the Capitol, three men were hired to oversee the construction.	During Thornton's tenure at the Capitol the north wing (shown in blue) was constructed.
B. Henry Latrobe
Portrait by George B. Matthews, 1931, after C. W. Peale	Born: May 1, 1764, near Leeds, England Died: September 3, 1820, New Orleans, Louisiana Hired by President Thomas Jefferson, March 6, 1803; construction halted by July 1, 1811 Hired by President James Madison, April 6, 1815 Resigned November 20, 1817	Latrobe constructed the Capitol's south wing (shown in blue) as well as rebuilding the interior of the north wing.
Charles Bulfinch
Portrait by George B. Matthews, 1931, after 1842 drawing by Alvan Clark	Born: August 8, 1763, Boston, Massachusetts Died: April 15, 1844, Boston, Massachusetts Hired by President James Monroe and the Commissioner of Public Buildings, January 8, 1818 Office abolished June 25, 1829	Bulfinch constructed the Capitol's central section (shown in blue), including the Rotunda and the original dome.
Thomas Ustick Walter
Portrait by Francisco Pausas, 1925, after a Mathew Brady photograph	Born: September 4, 1804, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died: October 30, 1887, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Appointed by President Millard Fillmore, June 11, 1851 Resigned May 26, 1865	Walter added the present north (Senate) and south (House) wings and the present cast-iron dome (shown in blue).
Edward Clark
Portrait by Constantino Brumidi	Born: August 15, 1822, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died: January 6, 1902, Washington, D.C. Appointed by President Andrew Johnson, August 30, 1865 Died in office, January 6, 1902
Elliott Woods
Portrait by George B. Matthews, 1931	Born: February 2, 1865 near Manchester, England Died: May 22, 1923, Spring Lake, New Jersey Appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt, February 19, 1902 Died in office May 22, 1923
David Lynn
Portrait by Charles J. Fox, 1954	Born: November 10, 1873, Wheeling, West Virginia Died: May 25, 1961, Washington, D.C. Appointed by President Calvin Coolidge, August 22, 1923 Retired September 30, 1954
J. George Stewart
Portrait by Charles J. Fox	Born: June 2, 1890, Wilmington, Delaware Died: May 24, 1970, Washington, D.C. Appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower, October 1, 1954 Died in office May 24, 1970	Stewart oversaw the extension of the Capitol's east central front (shown in blue).
George M. White, FAIA
Portrait by William Draper, 1981	Born: November 1, 1920, Cleveland, Ohio Appointed by President Richard Nixon, January 27, 1971 Retired November 21, 1995 In the period following Mr. White's retirement, William L. Ensign, FAIA, served as the Acting Architect of the Capitol.
Alan M. Hantman, FAIA
Portrait by Michael Shane Neal, 2006	Born: October 13, 1942, New York City Appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton, January 6, 1997; confirmed by the Senate, January 30, 1997 Retired February 4, 2007 Mr. Hantman was the first Architect of the Capitol to be appointed under the new selection procedure established by legislation in 1989. Following Mr. Hantman's retirement, Mr. Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, LEED AP, AOC's Deputy Architect/Chief Operating Officer, in accordance with P.L. 108-7, is serving as Acting Architect of the Capitol until a new Architect is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.