John Harper

• Born                      11 November 180
• Died                       18 October 1842 at Naples

John Harper was born at Dunkenhalgh Hall, near Blackburn on 11 November 1809. He studied architecture under Benjamin and Philip Wyatt, and, while with the, assisted in the preparation of the designs for Apsley House, York House, and the Duke of York's Column in London. In 1835 he submitted a design in the competition for rebuilding the Houses of Parliament. He was a great friend of the Yorkshire artist William Etty, who admired his architectural and other drawings.

Harper went into independent practice as an architect at York. When travelling in Italy to study art, he caught a malarial fever in Rome. While still in a weak state he went on to Naples, where he died on 18 October 1842.

Reference    Colvin
Reference    Dictionary of National Biography