Biography Jacob Wrey Mould

a drawing of lamp jacob wrey mould.

born in chislehurst, kent in 1825, mould attended king s college school in 1842. 2 years, studied alhambra in spain under owen jones, master of polychromy, whom later co-designed turkish chamber of buckingham palace. mould s subsequent designs influenced appreciation of moorish style of architecture.

mould designed decorations great exhibition in london in 1851. moved united states in 1852, , worked on crystal palace exhibition in manhattan. invited moses h. grinnell in 1853 design , build unitarian church of souls, , brought in on plans great urban park in heart of city, central park. working closely creators calvert vaux , frederick law olmsted, designed many of park s notable landmarks, including graceful , richly decorated old bandstand, belvedere castle, great number of bridges, , carvings on bethesda terrace.

though described eccentric , ill-mannered, mould hired full-time assistant city architect in 1857, , 1870 1871 architect-in-chief department of public works. in 1860s, had built 2 notable country homes in long island on hempstead bay, both of lavish , ornate buildings rich clients new york. mould collaborated vaux on design of original metropolitan museum of art , american museum of natural history, , designed fountain @ city hall park (1871).

in 1874, mould went lima, peru, henry meiggs, helped design public park. returned new york in 1879, , resumed duties department of public works until death in new york city on june 14, 1886. built morningside park promenade in 1883, , final design in united states temporary tomb president ulysses s. grant in riverside park, replaced later permanent monument known grant s tomb.

besides being accomplished architect , designer, jacob wrey mould avid pianist , organist, , employed talent language in translating numerous foreign opera librettos english. interred @ green-wood cemetery in brooklyn, new york.