John F. Rague

John Francis Rague (1799–1877; pronounced ra-gu) was a mid-19th century architect who designed and built numerous public buildings including the 1837 Old Capitol of Illinois and the 1840 Territorial Capitol of Iowa.

[1] He was born on March 24, 1799, in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

He studied under Minard Lafever in New York, and moved to Springfield, Illinois, in 1831.

Rague moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is known for designing the Phoenix Building in Milwaukee, as well as the initial plan for the Bascom Hill mall, North Hall, and South Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

[3] Rague's style varied widely over his career from Neoclassical to Federalist to Late Victorian and even to Egyptian Revival.