William Jay (architect)

William Jay (16 November 1792[1] – 17 April 1837) was an architect. He continued his father's and grandfather's interest in stonemasonry and building design.[2][3]

William Jay
Owens-Thomas House, designed by Jay
Born	(1792-11-16)16 November 1792 Bath, England
Died	17 April 1837(1837-04-17) (aged 44) Port Louis, Mauritius
Nationality	British
Occupation	Architect
Spouse	Louisa Coulson
Children	3
Parent	William Jay

Jay was born in Bath. His father was also William Jay, who had started working with his father as a stonemason, but became a Congregationalist minister. In 1807 the younger William became an apprentice of the architect and surveyor David Riddall Roper.

Jay's designs for Surrey Chapel Almshouses were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1814. He designed Dr. Fletcher's Albion Chapel in London, laying the foundation stone the following year. In 1817 he moved to the United States for four years, where he established as an architect in Savannah, Georgia. His American work includes the Owens-Thomas House, the William Scarbrough House, Telfair Academy, and The Savannah Theatre. The design of the Bulloch–Habersham House, which he designed, would later be replicated with the Habersham Memorial Hall.

When the economy of Georgia collapsed in 1822, Jay returned to England and worked primarily in Cheltenham.[3] Later, he went bankrupt and in 1836 moved with his family to the island of Mauritius, where he was an architect and civil engineer until his death in Port Louis.[2]