Título: Benjamin Henry Latrobe
Seção: Virginia
Background: Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe (May 1, 1764 - September 3, 1820) was a British subject and neoclassical architect who emigrated to the United States. He was one of the first formally trained, professional architects in the new United States, drawing on influences from his travels in Italy, as well as British and French Neoclassical architects such as Claude Nicolas Ledoux. In his thirties, he emigrated to the new United States and designed the United States Capitol, on "Capitol Hill" in Washington, D.C., as well as the Old Baltimore Cathedral or The Baltimore Basilica, (later renamed the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary). It is the first Roman Catholic Cathedral constructed in the United States.

Conteúdo: Latrobe arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, in mid-March 1796 after a harrowing four-month journey aboard the ship, which was plagued with food shortages under near-starvation conditions. Latrobe initially spent time in Norfolk, where he designed the "William Pennock House," then set out for Richmond, Virginia, in April 1796. Soon after arriving in Virginia, Latrobe became friends with Bushrod Washington, nephew of President George Washington, along with Edmund Randolph and other notable figures. Through Bushrod Washington, Latrobe was able to pay a visit to Mount Vernon to meet with the president in the summer of 1796.  Latrobe's first major project in the United States was the State Penitentiary in Richmond, commissioned in 1797. The penitentiary included many innovative ideas in penal reform, then being espoused by Thomas Jefferson and various other figures, including cells arranged in a semicircle, similar, but not identical to Jeremy Bentham's panopticon, that allowed for easy surveillance, as well as improved living conditions for sanitation and ventilation. He also pioneered the use of solitary confinement in the Richmond penitentiary. While in Virginia, Latrobe worked on the Green Spring mansion near Williamsburg, which had been built by Governor Sir William Berkeley in the seventeenth century but fell into disrepair after the American Revolutionary War. Latrobe created designs for Fort Nelson in Virginia in 1798. He also made drawings for a number of houses that were not b

user: when did Latrobe live in Virginia?

assistant: Latrobe initially spent time in Norfolk, where he designed the "William Pennock House,

user: Did he design any other houses in Norfolk?

assistant: Latrobe's first major project in the United States was the State Penitentiary in Richmond, commissioned in 1797.

user: How long did it take to build the penitentiary?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Where did Latrobe go after his time in Norfolk?

assistant: Virginia,

user: What are some other interesting aspects about this article?

assistant: After spending a year in Virginia, the novelty of being in a new place wore off, and Latrobe was lonely and restless in Virginia.

user: Did he go somewhere else after that year in Virginia?

assistant: In April 1798, Latrobe visited Philadelphia for the first time,

user: What did he do in Philadelphia?

assistant: meeting with Bank of Pennsylvania president Samuel J. Fox, and presented to him a design for a new bank building.

user: Did Fox like the design?

assistant: ideal

user: Did fox hire Latrobe to design the bank building?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did he design any other buildings?

assistant: He moved to Philadelphia, so that he could supervise the construction, although he

user: how long did he stay in Philadelphia?

assistant: He stopped by Washington again on his way back to Richmond.