James J. Egan

James J. Egan, FAIA, (1839, Cork, Ireland—December 2, 1914, Chicago, Illinois) was an Irish-American architect and fellow of the American Institute of Architects practicing in Chicago, Illinois. He was a partner of the Chicago architectural firms Armstrong & Egan, Egan & Kirkland and Egan & Prindeville, which gained prominence designing Roman Catholic structures.

Early life

Born in Cork, Ireland, Egan graduated from the Government School of Design, Queens College, Cork. He emigrated to the United States through Castle Garden, New York City and "worked in the offices of several prominent New York architects, including Richard Upjohn and Edward Tuckerman Potter".

Chicago Architect

He relocated to Chicago, Illinois, either around 1870 or shortly after Chicago's great fire in 1871, where he was heavily involved in reconstruction, and formed several partnerships with fellow architects. With John M. Armstrong, the firm of Armstrong & Egan designed the Criminal Court and County Jail (1874). With Alex Kirkland, the firm of Egan & Kirkland designed the County Building (1882) and the four-story Hotel Saint Benedict Flats (Chicago, Illinois) (1882–1883). With Charles H. Prindeville, the firm of Egan & Prindeville (active from 1897 to 1914) gained prominence building Roman Catholic churches and other structures, including the Cathedral of Cathedral of St. Paul (1906). Egan died in 1914. The firm continued under Charles Prindeville after Egan's death.