Pierre Charles L'Enfant

Pierre Charles L' Enfant ( born August 2, 1754 Paris, † June 14, 1825 in Prince George's County, Maryland) was a French artist, scientist and urban planner of Washington, DC

From 1771 to 1776 L'Enfant studied under his father art at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in Paris. At the age of 22 he decided to go with the Marquis Marie -Joseph Lafayette in the "New World ".

After he arrived in 1777 in the United States today, he reported only as a volunteer and later served as a major general during the American War of Independence and became friends during this time with George Washington. So it was that Washington asking approached him, on a 10 × 10 miles of beautiful grounds to design the new capital. L' Enfant took on this job and designed the new capital. His first map was published in 1792. His buildings reminiscent in style to the ancient magnificent buildings in ancient Rome.

The architect was celebrated as a hero, but this resigned after differences with the supervisor already in 1792 by the project. The city of Washington, D.C. was largely built according to his plans, while the dropped hero before several courts fought until his death for an adequate pension. Pierre L' Enfant died as an impoverished man. Only after his death was remembered his deeds and built him a monument. His remains were exhumed and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.