Born in County Kilkenny, James Hoban trained as a carpenter and wheelwright before studying architecture in Dublin. He emigrated to America in the 1780s and established himself as an architect and builder. In 1792, he won the competition to design the President’s House in Washington, now known as the White House. He supervised its construction and later returned to oversee its rebuilding after British forces burned it in 1814. From humble beginnings in rural Ireland, Hoban left a lasting mark on American history through one of the world’s most recognizable buildings.