Josephfranois Mangin

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Family

French-American architect who is noted for designing New York City Hall and St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in New York City. He was the son of Jean-Baptiste François Mangin, the king's surgeon, and Marie Anne Milot, both from Dompaire. He left Dompaire around 1773 to study at a high school in Nancy, where he graduated in 1777. He then studied law at the University of Nancy, where he graduated in 1781. After spending a few years near Nancy as a lawyer, he decided to move to St Domingue (today Haiti) to make a fortune. He left France from Nantes on 25 October 1784 and arrived in St Domingue on 7 December 1784. Joseph François Mangin and his brother Charles had to flee Saint Domingue in 1793 as a consequence of the slave revolt which started in 1792. They arrived in New York City in December 1793. He became a surveyor for New York City (NYC), followed by becoming the architect of NYC Hall, St Patrick's original Cathedral, his business partner John McComb was the builder of city hall. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1796. No information regarding his date or place of death has come to light. Link to Wikipedia biography