John Ostell (7 August 1813 – 6 April 1892) architect, surveyor and manufacturer, was born in London, England and emigrated to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

in 1834, where he apprenticed himself to a

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...

surveyor André Trudeau to learn French methods of surveying. In 1837 he married Eleonore Gauvin, a member of a prominent French Catholic family in the city. His marriage ensured entry to French Canadian society, he was appointed diocesan architect for Montreal. In 1849 he formed a partnership with his nephew Henri-Maurice Perrault (1828–1903), this was the formation of one of the first architectural dynasties in Canada. He mostly worked in the

Greek Revival The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but a ...

style of architecture. His first work in Montreal was the city's original Custom House, completed in 1836. This was followed by the McGill University Arts Building, 1839–1843, the oldest building on the McGill campus, extended 1860-1862 (formerly known as the McGill College Building, today renamed the McCall MacBain Arts Building); Asile des Soeurs de la Providence (aka Asile de la Providence), 1842 (demolished);

High School of Montreal The High School of Montreal was an English-language high school founded in 1843, serving Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the area eventually known as the Golden Square Mile. It was less formally known as Montreal High School and from 1853 to 1870 was ...

, 1845 (demolished); Protestant Orphan Asylum, 1848 (demolished); Palais episcopal (Episcopal Palace) 1849, burnt 1852; Eglise de Notre-Dame-de-Toutes-Graces, 1851; Church of St Anne, 1853 (demolished); Grand séminaire de Montréal, 1854; and the Old Montreal Court House, now known as the Édifice Lucien-Saulnier.1856-1859. Ostell submitted designs for the new St. James Cathedral in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

in 1849, placing second in the competition to Frederick William Cumberland. The only residential home left standing built by Ostell is the former home of

Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine Sir Louis-Hippolyte Ménard '' dit'' La Fontaine, 1st Baronet, KCMG (October 4, 1807 – February 26, 1864) was a Canadian politician who served as the first Premier of the United Province of Canada and the first head of a responsible governmen ...

in downtown Montreal at 1395

Overdale Overdale was a small residential district in downtown Montreal that became a famous symbol of the struggle between urban conservationists and land developers. In the mid-1980s, two developers, Robert Landau and Douglas Cohen, operating under an a ...

Ave. The house, which was abandoned for the past 30 years and falling apart, was restored recently (2019) to its original appearance by the real estate developer of the condominium complex now surrounding it. Image:Ancien palais de justice (Montréal).JPG, Old Municipal Courthouse Édifice Lucien-Saulnier. Image:Customs House Montreal.jpg, Original Custom House Image:Arts Building, McGill University, Aug 31 2022.jpg, McGill University Arts Building. In 1859 he largely abandoned architecture having established a successful lumber business in 1852. The factory made doors and windows for export to Upper Canada (

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

), Australia, the US and Britain. By 1856 the factory covered and employed 75 workers and had a turn over of goods worth £18,750 per annum. There are two adjacent streets in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges burough named after him: Ostell Street and Ostell Crescent.

References

External links

Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''

Historic Places in Canada
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ostell, John Architects from London 1813 births 1892 deaths History of Montreal Neoclassical architects Greek Revival architects 19th-century Canadian architects English emigrants to Canada Burials at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery