John Weller Priest | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1825-10-06)October 6, 1825 |
| Died | July 24, 1859(1859-07-24) (aged 33) |
| Occupation | Architect |
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John W. Priest (1825-1859) was a noted Americanarchitect from New York and founding member of theAmerican Institute of Architects.
John Weller Priest was born October 6, 1825, inNew York City. He was educated at Washington College, nowTrinity College, inHartford, Connecticut, graduating in 1845.[1] His architectural training is unknown, though he had some association withAndrew Jackson Downing.[citation needed] By at least by the late 1840s Priest was practicing architecture from his home inBalmville, nearNewburgh, though he also kept a business office in New York City. In 1852 Priest was included on a short list of architects approved by the New York Ecclesiological Society, an organization based on theEcclesiological Society ofLondon. Priest had been previously associated with the Society, and wrote a series of influential articles on architecture in its journal in 1849 and 1850.[2] Priest practiced architecture in Balmville until his death in 1859.Henry M. Congdon (1834-1922) was a student of Priest from 1854, and succeeded to the practice after his death. Also associated with Priest wasCharles T. Rathbun (1828-1908), later a noted architect inPittsfield, Massachusetts.[3]
In 1857, Priest was one of the founding members of theAmerican Institute of Architects.[4]
Priest was consistently in poor health, necessitating his residence and practice away fromNew York City. He died July 24, 1859, at the age of 33.[1]
Priest was one of only five architects approved by the New-York Ecclesiological Society. His work is limited because of his early death in 1859, not because he was an unimportant architect. He mentored architect Henry M. Congdon, who had an extensive and well-documented career in church architecture after Priest's death. The churches designed by Priest exhibit the high standards with careful proportions and detail espoused by the Ecclesiological Society.[2] Additionally, several of his surviving works have been listed on the United StatesNational Register of Historic Places.
His obituary indicates he designed churches inAlabama,Maryland,New Jersey,New York andNorth Carolina, without naming them. It also indicates he was a prolific designer of houses, but of these only Eagle's Nest is known.[1]
