Thomas Cooley
life
Cooley was born 1740 to William and Mary Cooley in London and began his career as a carpenter apprenticeship in 1756 with interest in architecture.
Cooley worked as a draughtsman and clerk to the architect and engineer Robert Mylne (1733–1810), while the latter was building Blackfriars Bridge in London, between 1761 and 1769. In 1769, he won the competition to design a new Royal Exchange in Dublin, and the building, now the City Hall, was completed in 1779. The design shows the influence of Mylne's work, which in turn derived from French neoclassical architecture.
Arriving in Ireland in 1781, Cooley built several public buildings in Dublin in the neoclassical style. Together with James Gandon (1743–1823), Cooley was part of a small school of architects influenced by Sir William Chambers (1723–1796).
From 1781 Cooley remained in Ireland for the rest of his life. He was survived by a son William, daughter and predeceased by his wife.
Cooley worked as a draughtsman and clerk to the architect and engineer Robert Mylne (1733–1810), while the latter was building Blackfriars Bridge in London, between 1761 and 1769. In 1769, he won the competition to design a new Royal Exchange in Dublin, and the building, now the City Hall, was completed in 1779. The design shows the influence of Mylne's work, which in turn derived from French neoclassical architecture.
Arriving in Ireland in 1781, Cooley built several public buildings in Dublin in the neoclassical style. Together with James Gandon (1743–1823), Cooley was part of a small school of architects influenced by Sir William Chambers (1723–1796).
From 1781 Cooley remained in Ireland for the rest of his life. He was survived by a son William, daughter and predeceased by his wife.