Soane, John

ARCHITECT (ENGLAND)
BORN 10 Sep 1753, Reading, Berkshire - DIED 20 Jan 1837, London
GRAVE LOCATION London: St. Pancras Old Churchyard, St. Pancras Road

John Soane was the son of a bricklayer. He was educated by George Dance the Younger (1741-1825) and Henry Holland as well as at the schools of the Royal Academy. He won a gold medal in 1776 and a scholarship that enabled him to travel to Italy in 1778. He returned to England in 1780 and after a brief stay in Ireland, where he found no work, he settled in London. In 1784 he married a rich woman.

He became Surveyor to the Bank of England in 1788 and inherited money from the father of his wife. This helped him to build a successful practice. In 1802 he became a Royal Academician and a few years later he was appointed Professor at the Royal Academy. In 1814 he became a member of the Board of Works (until 1832). He was knighted in 1832 and in his house (by his own design) at Lincoln's Inn Fields he brought together a large collection of art and antiquarian objects. He presented his collection to the state and after his death his house became the Soane Museum.

Among the buildings he designed are the Bank of England, the Holy Trinity (Euston Road) and the Dulwich Picture Gallery (1811-1814). His portrait was painted by John Jackson (1828, National Portrait Gallery, London).

Related persons
• employed Chadwick, William

Images

The grave monument for Sir John Soane at St. Pancras Old Churchyard, St. Pancras Road, London.
Picture by Androom (28 May 2004)

 

Sources
Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909


Söderbaum, Kristina

Published: 01 Jan 2006
Last update: 25 Dec 2021