The Reality of Debtor's Prisons in Britain and North America

21. Charles Bulfinch, America’s foremost architect of his day, went to debtor’s prison

Charles Bulfinch served as the architect for some of Boston’s most notable buildings in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. He designed Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill., numerous churches and hospitals, and University Hall at Harvard in Cambridge. Bulfinch designed and supervised the construction of several private dwellings, served as a city selectman for several terms, and designed buildings in other New England communities. Despite being in demand as an architect, particularly among wealthy New England families, Bulfinch found himself insolvent numerous times throughout his life. During the period in which he worked in the Massachusetts State House, he was jailed for debt, working out of Boston’s City Jail.

Such was Bulfinch’s reputation that President Monroe brought the architect to Washington to supervise the rebuilding of the Capitol after the British burned it during the War of 1812. Despite being rewarded handsomely in fees, and salaries from Boston and in Washington, Bulfinch could never avoid debts, often the result of investments in land and buildings. It is often reported that Bulfinch spent his time incarcerated for debt in a prison of his own design. There is little evidence to support the assertion. Still, throughout his career as an architect, Bulfinch juggled money between landowners, tradesmen, and investors. He remained always on the brink of financial collapse, and the threat of another term in debtor’s prison.

Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

“The Fleet Prison”. Old and New London, British History Online.

“Daniel Defoe”. Article, The British Library. Online

“James Edward Oglethorpe”. Article, Oglethorpe University. Online

“The Rich and Gory History of the Clink Prison”. Article, the Clink Prison Museum. Online

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“Charles Dickens (1812-1870)”. Article, BBC History. Online

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