Born in 1755, the son of tenant farmers at Desart Court in County Kilkenny, Ireland, James Hoban trained in Dublin before brining his talents in architectural drawing and building to America in about 1785. In 1792 his design for the President's House won the competition, and President George Washington placed him in charge of its construction. The White House would be Hoban's greatest achievement. He also worked on the U.S. Capitol and other government and domestic buildings in the emerging Federal City. A prominent citizen of Washington, he was captain of the militia, served on the city council, and helped establish the city's first Catholic churches, and Freemason Lodge. Whit this anthology, Hoban scholars from the United States, Ireland, and Britain present the story of the Irish builder's life, influences, and work.