Born: 9/1/1840, Died: 10/10/1912

Benjamin Linfoot was born in York, England; and, according to family tradition, he began work in Derby, England, before moving to New York and, subsequently, Philadelphia, where he was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1889. Linfoot's first appearance in Philadelphia was via Samuel Sloan's Architectural Review & American Builder's Journal, where he is noted as a delineator in March, 1869, for the illustration of the Pittsburgh City Hall. His first appearance in Philadelphia city directories is in 1870 with an office at 328 Walnut Street. By 1871 he is a partner in the firm of Linfoot & Fleu, lithographers; later references confirm this occupational dichotomy between lithographer and architect. His book, Architectural Picture Making with Pen and Ink, exhibits this duality of interest; Linfoot illustrates many of his own architectural designs as examples of technique. Other offices maintained by Linfoot in Philadelphia were at 719 Walnut Street, 1719 Ludlow Street, and 2nd and Walnut streets.



Written by Sandra L. Tatman.