John McComb Jr.
John McComb Jr. (October 17, 1763 – May 25, 1853) was an American architect who designed many landmarks in the 18th and 19th centuries. Between 1790 and 1825, McComb was New York City's leading architect.
Also recorded as John McComb · John McComb, Jr.
John McComb Jr.

John McComb Jr. · The Icongraphy of Manhattan Island: v. 3, Plate 10-a · Public domain
- Name
- John McComb Jr.
- Born
- 17 October 1763.
- Birthplace
- New York City, U.S.
- Died
- 25 May 1853
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- architect
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
John McComb Jr. (October 17, 1763 – May 25, 1853) was an American architect who designed many landmarks in the 18th and 19th centuries. Between 1790 and 1825, McComb was New York City's leading architect.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1247826 · wikipedia · John McComb Jr.
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — John McComb Jr. • Born — 17 October 1763. • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 25 May 1853 • Place of death — New York City, U.S. • Resting Place — Green-Wood Cemetery
Early life and education
Early life and education
McComb Jr. was born on October 17, 1763, in New York City and was of Scottish ancestry. In 1783, McComb began working with his father, John McComb Sr., a well known architect and surveyor. In 1790, he began working independently and John Jay spoke highly of his work to Alexander Hamilton. McComb would later design Hamilton's home, the Grange. In general, McComb worked in the Federal style. McComb died in 1853, and is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Work
Work
• Old Cape Henry Light (1792), first lighthouse totally authorized by the federal government. • Montauk Point Lighthouse (1796) • Station Eatons Neck Lighthouse (1798) • Gracie Mansion (1799) • St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery (1799) • Hamilton Grange (1802) • New York City Hall (1803) • St. John's Chapel (New York City) (1803, demolished 1918) • Old Queens building at Rutgers University (1808) • Castle Clinton (1808) • Washington Hall (1809) • Alexander Hall, Princeton Theological Seminary (1815)
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Montauk Point Lighthouse (1796) • Illustration — New York City Hall (1803) • Illustration — Old Queens at Rutgers University (1808) • Illustration — Alexander Hall, Princeton Theological Seminary (1815)
Identity
Identity
John McComb Jr. Is recorded as architect. The identifiers under which John McComb Jr. May be traced in institutional catalogues.

At 53rd Street.
Drawn by Lundie. Engraved by Archibald L. Dick. · Internet Archive: Fay, Theodore S. and Dakin, James H. Views in New-York and its environs, from accurate, characteristic picturesque drawings, taken on the spot, expressly for this work (New York: Pe

Shot Tower, East River, Manhattan
Drawn by Lundie Engraved by Dick Printed by Miller · This image has been extracted from another file
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1763–1853
The full dated record · 6 entries
1763
John McComb Jr. born at New York City.
1798
Eatons Neck Light is dated 1798.
1808
Castle Clinton is dated 1808.
1812
New York City Hall is dated 1812.
1812
Germania Theatre is dated 1812.
1853
John McComb Jr. died at New York City.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1247826: John McComb Jr.
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “John McComb Jr.”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
scholarly publication
- John McComb, Sr. and ., in New York, 1784-1799, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 1972
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1972
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
John McComb, Sr. and, in New York, 1784-1799, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 1972Crossref registry
Institutional witnessreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1247826: John McComb Jr.Wikimedia Foundation
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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