John Slater

Born in Bishop's Stortford on July 28, 1847, he studied at University College London and was articled to the architect and teacher T. Roger Smith. He later became closely associated with the architectural profession in Britain, serving as President of the Architectural Association in 1887 and as a Vice-President of the Royal Institute of British Architects from 1900 to 1904.

As an author, he is best known for collaborating with T. Roger Smith on Architecture: Classic and Early Christian, a widely circulated survey of architecture that introduced readers to major building traditions of the ancient world and the early church in clear, non-technical language. The book remained in print in later editions, which suggests it found a lasting audience.

His professional work included serving as surveyor to the Berners Estate in London. He is credited with the design of the Berners Hotel, built in 1908–10, a grand building that still stands as part of London's architectural history. He died on December 1, 1924.