Pierre L’Enfant

Date of Birth

August 2, 1754

Place of Birth

Paris, France

Date of Death

June 14, 1825

Place of Death

Prince Georges County, Maryland

American Revolution Service

Pierre L’Enfant enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776. He was later given the ranks of Captain, then Brevet Major, U.S. Corps of Engineers, BLW 1335-300

State of Service

Pennsylvania, Georgia and South Carolina

Donor

The DC Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Pierre Charles L’Enfant was born on August 2, 1754, in Paris, France. He died on June 14, 1825, in Prince Georges County, Maryland. He had no known wife or children.

L’Enfant left France and enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776. L’Enfant, who had a background in art, architecture and engineering, served in the U.S. Corps of Engineers during the entire time of the Revolutionary War. Early in the war he was a lieutenant, but he was later given the ranks of Captain, then Brevet Major, according to his service record, BLW 1335-300.

Photo of medallion with bust of Pierre L’Enfant. Library of Congress, loc.gov

Photo of early design for the Mall drawn by Pierre L’Enfant. Library of Congress, loc.gov

Photo of design for the Mall drawn by Pierre L’Enfant. Library of Congress, loc.gov

Photo of tombstone of Pierre Charles L’Enfant at Arlington National Cemetery. Library of Congress, loc.gov

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He initially served at Valley Forge under General George Washington.

Later, he served under General Casimir Pulaski at the Siege of Savannah, where he was badly wounded in the leg. He was captured at Charleston but returned to the army after a period of parole.

After the war, L’Enfant became a member of, and designed the insignia and diploma for, the Society of the Cincinnati, a prestigious fraternal organization of officers in the Continental Army. When the nation’s capital was moved to Washington, D.C., George Washington hired L’Enfant to design the city. L’Enfant was dismissed a year later because he refused to follow orders from the District of Columbia Commissioners. However, much of his original plan was used and the city has kept the design intact.

Originally buried in Prince Georges County, Maryland, L’Enfant’s remains were removed to Arlington National Cemetery on April 28, 1909.