Thompson, Martin Euclid | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

THOMPSON, Martin Euclid (1787-1877) was an important early 19th century architect in New York City whose name can be linked with a project in Guelph, Ont.. Born in New Jersey, he trained as a carpenter and possessed an exceptional knowledge of classical revival styles. He was singularly responsible for introducing the Greek revival style to New York with his design for the Phenix Bank on Wall Street, New York City (1818) and the Church of the Ascension (1828). In 1826 both he and Ithiel Town formed a partnership and together were founding members of the National Academy of Design, organized in that same year. In 1828 Thompson exhibited a 'Design for a Villa for John Galt Esq., Canada' (National Academy of Design Exhibit Record 1826-1860, ii, 159, pub. 1943 for the New York Historical Society). Galt was a colonial promoter who served as secretary of the board of directors of the Canada Company. He was posted to Canada as company superintendent in 1826 and founded the town of Guelph. The nearby town of Galt (now Cambridge) was named after him. It is uncertain if, or where, the villa designed by Thompson was built in Guelph, and whether it still stands there, but it was likely in a Greek revival style and bore some similarity to his scheme for the E.W. King villa at Pelham, N.Y., also designed in 1828. Thompson remained active in New York City until 1864 and died in Long Island in 1877 (biog. H. Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects, 1956, 597-8; MacMillan Encyclopedia of Architects, iv, 1982, 207-08; inf. Stephen Otto, Toronto)