William Thornton

Thornton's design for the Capitol had been submitted after the close of a competition in which 17 entries were found wanting. His plan was approved on July 25, 1793, with the award of $500 and a city lot in Washington, D.C..

Other notable designs by Thornton were the Library Company[?] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Tayloe house[?] or Octagon House[?] in Washington, D.C., once headquarters of the American Institute of Architects[?].

Thornton was also the first Superintendent of the United States Patent Office[?] from June 1, 1802 until his death on March 28, 1828.