John Nash
Born in Lambeth, LondonBorn on 18th of January 1752
Died in Cowes, Isle of Wight
Died on 13rd of May 1835
Buckingham Palace, Regent’s Street, Trafalgar Square and Marble Arch: all iconic London landmarks; all designed by architect John Nash.
John Nash was born on January 18, 1752 in Lambeth, London. He began his illustrious career working for the architect Robert Taylor but abandoned this once he came into money from an inheritance, retiring to Wales where he made some poor investments, with the upshot being that by the time he was 31 he was forced to return to architecture.
Over the next 10 years Nash made a success of designing Georgian country houses, so much so that he could afford to set up in London. He only stayed a year, however, before moving to Ireland to design castles and stately homes there. These gained him the attention of his future patron the Prince Regent who in 1810 commissioned him to design and develop Marylebone Park. This development which included Regent’s Street and Regent’s Park, named modestly after their sponsor, was to establish Nash as the leading architect of his day.
In 1815 the Prince Regent commissioned Nash to redesign the Royal Pavilion in Brighton which Nash accomplished with considerable flair and even today it remains a remarkable creation, albeit arguably the most tasteless building of the era. As his status grew Nash attracted ever more prestigious clients culminating in him being commissioned to turn Buckingham House into Buckingham Palace. This was not though one his more memorable designs and his layout of Trafalgar Square remains a more impressive spectacle. Nash also designed the Haymarket Theatre and Marble Arch which legend has it was moved to its present location from the entrance to Buckingham Place because it was too narrow for the royal coach to travel through. John Nash died in May 13, 1835 and is buried in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
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