Barney Circle in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Dr. William Thornton
Dr. William Thornton, the first Architect of the U.S. Capitol, was born into a wealthy West Indies Quaker family. At a young age, Thornton was sent to the United Kingdom for his education. While he studied medicine in Scotland, it being the height of the Scottish Enlightenment, he spent much of his time immersed in art, philosophy, economics, and architecture.
Upon completing his studies, including traveling on the Continent, Thornton immigrated to Philadelphia where he quickly earned a reputation, not for his medical skills, but as an architect when he won first a design contest for the Library Company of Philadelphia and then for the U.S. Capitol building located in the new Federal city.
Dr. Thornton and his young wife, Anna Maria Brodeau, moved to the new federal city soon after submitting the winning plan, living there for the remainder of their lives. Washington appointed Thornton to be one of the three commissioners overseeing the creation of the new city. President Jefferson later appointed Thornton to be the first Superintendent of Patents, where he managed to convince the invading British troops to not burn down the Patent Office during the War of 1812.
Died: March 28, 1828
Erected by Congressional
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is March 28, 1828.
Location. 38° 52.941′ N, 76° 58.67′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Barney Circle. It can be reached from E Street Southeast east of Potomac Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1809 Potomac Ave SE, Washington DC 20003, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Levi Casey (a few steps from this marker); Pushmataha (a few steps from this marker); Elbridge Gerry (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Elbridge Gerry (within shouting distance of this marker); Tobias Lear (within shouting distance of this marker); John Smilie (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas R. Gedney (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary War Patriots (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southeast Washington.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 28, 2025
2. Dr. William Thornton Grave Site with the marker in front
Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 28, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
