Who was the architect of the White House in Washington, D.C.?

• A. James Hoban
• B. George Washington
• C. Thomas Jefferson
• D. Pierre L'Enfant

Answer: (A)

James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, designed the White House. He submitted the winning plan in the 1792 design competition for the new executive mansion, and President George Washington chose his design. Hoban then oversaw the construction, which began in 1792 and was completed in 1800. The building reflects late Georgian neoclassical style, with symmetrical massing and classical details that set the tone for the capital’s federal architecture.

George Washington is a key figure in its history because he commissioned the house and laid the cornerstone, but he did not design it. Thomas Jefferson influenced American architectural taste and contributed to ideas about classical design, yet he did not design the White House. Pierre L’Enfant laid out the broader plan for Washington, D.C., including the location and surroundings of the White House, but not the building’s architecture.