Nash, John 1752-1835
English architect

Born in London or Cardigan, Wales, he trained as an architect, but after coming into a legacy retired to Wales. Having lost heavily by speculations in 1792, he resumed practice in London and gained a reputation by his country house designs. He came to the notice of the Prince of Wales (later George IV), and was engaged (1811-25) to plan the layout of the new Regent's Park and its environs of curved terraces. He laid out Regent Street (1825) to link the Park with Westminster. He built Carlton House Terrace, and laid out Trafalgar Square and St James's Park. He recreated Buckingham Palace from old Buckingham House, designed the Marble Arch which originally stood in front of it (moved to its present site in 1851), and rebuilt Brighton Pavilion in oriental style. On the strength of a patent (1797) for improvements to the arches and piers of bridges, he claimed much of the credit for introducing steel girders. The skilful use of terrain and landscape featured in his layouts marks him as one of the greatest town planners.

Bibliography: John Summerson, The Life and Work of John Nash, Architect (1980)