William Thornton Re-examined by Bob Arnebeck

The Doctor Examined, or Why William Thornton Did Not Design the Octagon House or the Capitol by Bob Arnebeck     Table of Contents Sir Archy, an engraving of Tayloe's most famous horse In April 1797, Mr. Tayloe of Virginia rode into the city. The 26 year old head of the richest family in Virginia, as measured by land, slaves, horses, ship building and iron furnaces, had either challenged or accepted a challenge from 36 year old Charles Conan Ridgely for a match race on April 18 for 500 Guineas or $2,600. By tradition, match races were held at a spot equidistant between the opponents. Ridgely's estate was just north of Baltimore and Tayloe's estate, Mount Airy, was just north of Richmond. Nicholson's hotelier Tunnicliff, against Nicholson's advice, prepared a race course "opposite" his hotel at 9th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. SE where four mile heats could have a convenient start and finish, and conform to the rules of the Annapolis Jockey Club. Two more...

  The Doctor Examined, or Why William Thornton Did Not Design the Octagon House or the Capitol by Bob Arnebeck Table of Contents   this chapter is getting re-write Chapter Seven: Thornton v. Hadfield 84. Hadfield's simplification of the 1793 Conference Plan When Hadfield signed his employment contract on October 15, 1795,  he only signed up for one year and "requested permission in the presence of the full board" to give them his opinion "respecting the state of the building, after having procured the designs and examined the work." Twelve days later in a letter to the president about getting a loan from the State of Maryland, Commissioners Scott and Thornton added “we have however no reason to think [Hadfield] will wish to leave us; hitherto his conduct gives satisfaction.” Then, on that same day, Hadfield wrote his report: “I find the building begun but do not find the necessary Plans to carry on a work of this importance and I think there are defects that ...