Joseph-François Mangin
| Joseph-François Mangin | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1764 Chalons-en-Champagne(formerly Chalons-sur Marne) , France |
| Died |
1818 New York City |
| Nationality | French-american citizen |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Architect |
| Buildings | St. Patrick's Old Cathedral |
| Projects | 1803 Plan for New York (with Casimir Goerck), rejected |
| Design | New York City Hall (1801-1802, with John McComb Jr.) |
Joseph-François Mangin was born in Chalons-sur Marne France, fled during the French Revolution to NYC, where he became an American Citizen in 1796. He studied architecture in Paris, prior to emigrating to America. US Military records show that Joseph Francois Mangin was a Military engineer in the War of 1812 and to 1819. He designed many landmarks in late 18th and early 19th century New York.
Career
Mangin appears to have lived and worked in Paris. He worked with Ange-Jacques Gabriel on the design of the Place de la Concorde, Paris.[1] Previous to the present New York City Commissioner’ Plan of 1811, the city's Common Council commissioned surveyor Casimir Goerck and his partner Mangin in 1797 for a development plan of the city. They delivered this in 1803 but it was rejected.[2][3] Between 1801-1802, Mangin worked with John McComb Jr. (1763–1853) on New York's City Hall. Mangin was renowned as the talented designer, while McComb came from a family of talented builders. Another major work he was responsible for was the city's original Greek Revival-style St. Patrick’s Cathedral (1809–1815) at the corner of Mott and Prince Streets, which was altered after a fire in 1866 into a Gothic parish church, and was elevated to basilica status in 2010.[4]
Legacy
Mangin Street (Manhattan), as incorporated into the Commissioner's Plans, runs from Grand Street north to Houston Street to the East River at Rivington Street (Manhattan), which was extended as landfill areas were incorporated into Manhattan, and now extends just west of the FDR Drive. During urban renewal projects, most of this street disappeared except for two short stretches under the Williamsburg Bridge and from Baruch Place to East Houston Street.
Mangin Avenue in St. Albans, Queens also may have been named after Mangin.
References
- ↑ Norval White and Elliot Willensky, AIA Guide to New York City, rev. ed., (New York: Collier Books, 1978)
- ↑ Gerard Koeppel, "Talking Point: Manhattan traffic congestion is a historic mistake", The Villager: West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933, Volume 77, Number 9 (August 01–07, 2007) (Accessed 19 May 2011)
- ↑ Gray, Christopher (October 23, 2005). "Streetscapes - The Commissioners' Plan of 1811: Are Manhattan's Right Angles Wrong?". New York Times. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ↑ Robert D. McFadden, "Cathedral With a Past; Basilica With a Future," New York Times, December 5, 2010
5. Rhymeskiss "From Slave to Architect, Military Engineer during the wr of 1812".