Gabriel Manigault (1758-1809)

He was born at Charleston, South Carolina. In 1775, he sailed to Europe to complete his education, first in Geneva and then in London to study at Lincoln's Inn, but before he could graduate he returned home in 1780 to protect his considerable property from confiscation. He joined the Charleston Artillery and defended the city from the British in 1780, but after the city fell he - like his father - swore an oath of allegiance to the King and accepted an appointment as a magistrate. The following year he broke rank and was unable to return to Charleston until the British left in 1782.

After the war, he was elected to the General Assembly and drawing from his time in Europe when he became interested in architecture he quickly gained a reputation as the most gifted architect of the post-Revolutionary period. His works include the South Carolina Hall in Meeting Street; the Joseph Manigault House; and, the Bank of the United States that is now City Hall. Sadly, his own home at Meeting and George Street has since been demolished. In 1785, he married Margaret, daughter of Senator Ralph Izard, President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate. They were the parents of twelve children of whom only four (listed) survived to adulthood. In 1804, he moved with his family to Philadelphia and took up residence at "Clifton" (see images) where he died in 1809.