Mills, Robert, 1781-1855

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Architect. A native of South Carolina, Mills lived in Charleston until about 1800 and later made his home in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Account of George Washington's visit to Charleston, S.C., 1791 May 2. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 36865419

Engineer, architect of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Letter : to George Bancroft, 1845 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22632349

From the description of Letter : Philadelphia, to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, 1814 Jan. 28. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22632307

American architect.

From the description of Architectural drawing of Farmington [manuscript], ca. 1855. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647810516

Engineer, architect of the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Letter : to Jefferson Davis, Washington, 1854 Aug. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22638900

Architect born in or near Charleston, South Carolina, the son of William Mills, a well-to-do tailor. Robert Mills resided in Charleston until about 1800, then again in 1804 and 1817, and from 1820 until 1829. Robert Mills then made his home in Washington, D.C. until his death in 1855. Mills married Eliza Barnwell Smith, and their daughter was Anna, who married Fortunatus Cosby. A prominent architect, Mills designed numerous structures in Charleston, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. He is best known as the architect of the Washington Monument.

From the description of Robert Mills papers, 1833-1849. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32139813

South Carolina architect.

From the description of Robert Mills papers, 1803-1856. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32141660

Architect and engineer of Charleston, S.C.; designs include Circular Congregational Church and County Records Office [Fireproof Building], Charleston, S.C.; Hampton-Preston House [Ainsley Hall], Columbia, S.C.; Bank of the U.S. and portions of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pa.; Washington National Monument, Washington, D.C.; son of William Mills.

From the description of Robert Mills papers, 1822-1965. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 41868238

Architect and engineer.

From the description of Papers of Robert Mills, 1804-1862 (bulk 1830-1850). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71070043

Mills was an architect who worked in South Carolina, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.

From the description of Papers, 1808-1853. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122568239

Architect.

From the description of William E. and Mary M. Murphy collection of Robert Mills journals and papers, 1787-1880 (bulk [ca. 1802-ca. 1845]). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82680969

Robert Mills (1781-1855), a native of South Carolina, was the first American-born and -trained professional architect. He learned his trade from James Hoban and Benjamin Latrobe and from extensive reading in the library of Thomas Jefferson. Mills worked with Latrobe in Philadelphia. From 1815-1820, he worked in Baltimore, where he had moved in order to supervise the construction of his design for a monument to Washington in that city. In 1830, he settled in Washington, D.C. and became Architect of Public Buildings, as a result of which he designed a number of government buildings, including the Treasury Building and the Washington Monument. Mills' wife, Eliza Barnwell Smith of Virginia, was a distant relative of Richard Potts.

The Potts house was completed in 1819; it was located at the southeast corner of Court Square in Frederick, Maryland. In 1894, another story was added. In 1946, the house was subdivided into apartments. The house was still standing and inhabited in 1982.

From the description of Architectural drawings for Richard Potts house, 1817. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 261233358

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Person

Birth 1781-08-12

Death 1855-03-03

Americans

English

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