Conclusion

Abstract The conclusion covers the life of Latrobe’s widow and children after his death. On the advice of Latrobe’s friend Robert Harper the family settled in Baltimore, where Harper could serve as a surrogate father, giving advice and financial support. In this city, Latrobe’s sons John and Ben became civic leaders, while unmarried Julie stayed at home with her mother. Both sons worked in different capacities with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad; both contributed to the community. The chapter ends with a brief summary of Latrobe’s contributions to the early republic. Benjamin Latrobe left professional legacies, principally his architecture such as the US Capitol, the Bank of Pennsylvania, the Baltimore Basilica, and the Merchants Exchange. His design for nearly seventy private homes established a more rational model for American domestic arrangements. He had adapted the classical style known in Europe to the climate, habits, and political ideals of his new homeland. Latrobe’s buildings and his engineering projects affected every aspect of life in the early republic—its worship, governance, communication, education, and domesticity.