Edward Brickell White

Edward Brickell White
Born	January 29, 1806 South Carolina
Died	May 10, 1882 (aged 76) New York
Nationality	USA
Alma mater	United States Military Academy
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Huguenot Church Robert William Roper House Market Hall St. Philip's Episcopal Church (steeple only) St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church (original sanctuary)

Huguenot Church, Charleston, South Carolina

St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church original sanctuary 1842, Charleston, SC

Edward Brickell White (January 29, 1806 – May 10, 1882), also known as E. B. White, was an American architect. He was known for his Gothic Revival architecture and his use of Roman and Greek designs.^[1]

Life

Edward Brickell White was born on January 29, 1806 on the Chapel Hill Plantation of St. John's Berkeley Parish, South Carolina. His father was the planter and artist, John Blake White, and his mother was Elizabeth Allston White.^[1]

In 1826, he graduated from the United States Military Academy where he studied engineering. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army artillery. On April 8, 1832, he married Delia Adams in New London, Connecticut. Following his resignation in August 1836, he surveyed for several railroads. Later that year he moved to Charleston, South Carolina to practice architecture, engineering, and surveying.^[1]

His first major work was the Greek Revival Market Hall,^[2] which is a National Historic Landmark (NHL) in Charleston.

He was the architect of many churches including the Gothic Revival Huguenot Church^[3] (NHL) in Charleston; the Gothic Revival Trinity Episcopal Church^[4] in Columbia, which is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); the wooden Gothic Revival Church of the Cross^[5] (NRHP) in Bluffton; and the steeple of St. Philip's Episcopal Church^[6] (NHL) in Charleston.^[1] In 1842, he designed the sanctuary of St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Ansonborough section of the city. He was the architect for Grace Episcopal Church at 100 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC, a Gothic Revival church built in 1847-1848. Likewise, he designed the Centenary Methodist Church at 60 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC in about 1842. In 1841, his design for St. Johannes Lutheran Church, 48 Hasell St., Charleston, SC was built.

The 21 ft (6 m) granite Doric granite column for the Daniel Morgan Monument^[7] (NRHP) in Spartanburg, South Carolina was one of his projects. He designed the Charleston High School, which is currently a private residence, and the Grace Episcopal Church that are contributing properties to the Charleston Historic District^[8] (NHRP). He designed a portico with columns and wings for the main building and Gate Lodge of the College of Charleston^[9] (NHL). He designed an expansion of a building at South Carolina Military College.^[1]

He was the superintending architect for the new Custom House^[10] in Charleston, which was designed by Ammi Burnham Young. Construction was halted in 1859 when the US Congress did not appropriate funding to cover cost overruns. A less ambitious design was completed in 1879.^[1]

During the Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army, and served at James Island and North Carolina. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, commanding the 3rd South Carolina Artillery.^[1]

After the war, finding new projects was difficult in Charleston. E. B. White supervised repairs of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Charleston. He designed a building for Charleston Gas & Light Co.^[1]

In 1879, White moved to New York and died on May 10, 1882. He was interred in St. Michael's Episcopal Churchyard in Charleston.^[1]

References

1. Edgar, Walter (1998). South Carolina: A History. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. pp. 1020–1021. ISBN 1-57003-255-6.
2. "Market Hall and Sheds" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1973. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
3. "Huguenot Church" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1973. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
4. "Trinity Episcopal Church" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 24 February 1971. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
5. "Church of the Cross" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1974. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
6. "St. Philip's Episcopal Church" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1973. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
7. "Daniel Morgan Monument" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1980. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
8. "Charleston Historic District" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1970. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
9. "College of Charleston Complex: Main Building, Library and Gate Lodge" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1971. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
10. "U.S. Customhouse" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. National Park Service. 1974. Retrieved 17 March 2009.