John P. Gaynor (circa 1826–1888) was an Irish American
architect practicing in
New York City and
San Francisco during the nineteenth century.
Life and career
John Plant Gaynor was born circa 1826 in
Dublin,
Ireland. He was the son of surveyor John P. Gaynor, and likely received his early architectural training in the architectural school of the
Royal Dublin Society.[1] In 1849 he immigrated to the United States, and practiced architecture in Brooklyn and New York beginning in 1851. There he was best known for the design of the
E. V. Haughwout Building, a
cast-iron fronted building completed in 1857. In 1863 he relocated to San Francisco, where he designed several large hotels and office buildings, most prominently the original
Palace Hotel, completed in 1875 and
destroyed in 1906.[2] His clients included the financiers
William C. Ralston and
Asbury Harpending. Gaynor retired in the mid-1880s and retired to his home in
Oakland, where he died June 9, 1888.[3]
Legacy
Gaynor frequently utilized
cast-iron elements in his architecture, both in New York and San Francisco. His
E. V. Haughwout Building in
New York City, completed in 1857, was thought by preservationist
Margot Gayle to be "The most celebrated of the cast-iron buildings still standing in New York City." He also designed the first cast-iron buildings in San Francisco.[4] Though much of his work has been destroyed, several of his remaining buildings have been listed on the United States
National Register of Historic Places.
John P. Gaynor (circa 1826–1888) was an Irish American
architect practicing in
New York City and
San Francisco during the nineteenth century.
Life and career
John Plant Gaynor was born circa 1826 in
Dublin,
Ireland. He was the son of surveyor John P. Gaynor, and likely received his early architectural training in the architectural school of the
Royal Dublin Society.[1] In 1849 he immigrated to the United States, and practiced architecture in Brooklyn and New York beginning in 1851. There he was best known for the design of the
E. V. Haughwout Building, a
cast-iron fronted building completed in 1857. In 1863 he relocated to San Francisco, where he designed several large hotels and office buildings, most prominently the original
Palace Hotel, completed in 1875 and
destroyed in 1906.[2] His clients included the financiers
William C. Ralston and
Asbury Harpending. Gaynor retired in the mid-1880s and retired to his home in
Oakland, where he died June 9, 1888.[3]
Legacy
Gaynor frequently utilized
cast-iron elements in his architecture, both in New York and San Francisco. His
E. V. Haughwout Building in
New York City, completed in 1857, was thought by preservationist
Margot Gayle to be "The most celebrated of the cast-iron buildings still standing in New York City." He also designed the first cast-iron buildings in San Francisco.[4] Though much of his work has been destroyed, several of his remaining buildings have been listed on the United States
National Register of Historic Places.