Peter Harrison
1716 to 1775
Colonial architect of Newport's Touro Synagogue and Redwood Library
Builders and architects
Peter Harrison was born in England in 1716, settled in Newport, Rhode Island, and is credited with bringing the Palladian style, the calm, temple fronted classicism of the English country house, to the American colonies.
Newport is his town, and our Newport walk passes three of his buildings in a short stretch. The Redwood Library, finished in 1750, was the first purpose built library in the country. Touro Synagogue, dedicated in 1763, is the oldest synagogue building in the United States; it stands at an angle to the street so that people facing the Ark face east, toward Jerusalem. Tours are run by the congregation and must be booked for a set time online. In Boston, the stone King's Chapel on the Freedom Trail is his too.
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Known for
- Redwood Library1750
- King's Chapel, Boston1754
- Touro Synagogue1763
- Brick Market1772
Where to meet them
Newport, Rhode Island
- Brick MarketStop 5, Newport, the colonial harbor to the Cliff Walk
- Touro SynagogueStop 6, Newport, the colonial harbor to the Cliff Walk
- Redwood Library and AthenaeumStop 7, Newport, the colonial harbor to the Cliff Walk