Happy Birthday, Pierre Charles L'Enfant

The French engineer and urban designer Pierre Charles L'Enfant was born on August 2, 1754. George Washington hired L'Enfant to plan a grand capital city for the fledgling United States. Later, L'Enfant disagreed with government officials and was replaced by other architects. Benjamin Banneker, a black American inventor and astronomer, played an important role in implementing plans for Washington DC. Still, much of Washington DC with its wide boulevards and public squares follows L'Enfant's original concept.

More:

• U.S. Capitol Building
• The White House
• Washington DC Photos