Étienne Sulpice Hallet facts for kids

Étienne Sulpice Hallet (1755–1825) was a French architect. He is also known as Stephen Hallet in the United States. He played a part in the early design ideas for the United States Capitol building.

Stephen Hallet's Journey to America

Around 1789, Étienne Sulpice Hallet moved from France to the United States. In America, he started using the name Stephen Hallet. He worked as a draftsman for Pierre Charles L'Enfant. A draftsman is someone who draws detailed plans for buildings or projects.

Designing the U.S. Capitol

Stephen Hallet submitted his own plans for the future Capitol building in Washington, D.C.. The Capitol is where the United States government meets to make laws. Hallet's design included a very large dome for the building. He sent his ideas to Thomas Jefferson, who was a very important leader in the early United States.

However, in 1793, another design was chosen instead. The winning design came from William Thornton. After this, Hallet worked as a supervisor for Thornton. This meant he helped oversee the building work based on Thornton's plans. But he was later dismissed from this role.

What Happened After the Capitol Project?

In 1796, Stephen Hallet started a school where people could learn about architecture. But this school did not last long and closed after 1797. Hallet then traveled to different places like Havana and New York City. It seems he did not work on any other big building projects after that. He passed away in 1825.