A competition was held in early 1792 to award $500 and a city lot to whomever produced "the most approved plan" for a US Capitol by July. None of the 17 plans were satisfactory, so Dr. William Thornton, a Scottish physician living in Tortola, West Indies, requested a chance to present a plan in October, even though the competition had closed. The Commissioners granted the request, and Washington approved the new design in July, 1793.
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Construction soon began, but at a slow pace. Congress eventually occupied the unfinished building in 1800, and granted more money for it's completion. Benjamin Latrobe was hired to oversee the project, and redesigned a majority of the massive structure. The Capital was almost burned to the ground during the War of 1812, and was never really fully completed until 1826. In the 1850's, the wings were added to the building, doubling it's length.
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