author
John H. B. (John Hazlehurst Boneval) Latrobe
1803–1891
A leading Baltimore lawyer, inventor, and civic figure of the 19th century, he is remembered both for shaping public institutions and for designing the popular "Baltimore Heater" stove. His life joined law, engineering, art, and public service in a way that feels unusually wide-ranging even for his era.
1 Audiobook
A Lost Chapter in the History of the Steamboat
by John H. B. (John Hazlehurst Boneval) Latrobe
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1803, John Hazlehurst Boneval Latrobe was the son of architect and engineer Benjamin Henry Latrobe. He studied engineering at West Point before turning to law, and he went on to build a long career in Baltimore, where he became closely associated with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as counsel for many decades.
Latrobe was more than a lawyer. He was also an inventor, best known for the Latrobe Stove, or "Baltimore Heater," a coal-burning fireplace insert that became widely used in the 19th century. Alongside his professional work, he was active in civic and cultural life, helping to found and support important Maryland institutions, including organizations devoted to history, the arts, and public improvement.
He also wrote and sketched, and his career reflects the broad curiosity of a man comfortable moving between practical design, public affairs, and intellectual life. By the time of his death in 1891, he had left a strong mark on Baltimore's legal, industrial, and cultural history.