George Washington fires Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant <p class="p1">In February 1792 <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/152">President George Washington </a>dismissed city planner Major <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/82">Pierre Charles L'Enfant</a>, who had been hired to <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/168">design the new capital</a> but continually argued with the Federal City commissioners. One of L'Enfant's most offensive acts was demolishing the house of local landowner <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/464">Daniel Carroll</a> because it stood in the way of a new road. Although Carroll was eventually reimbursed for the damages, the event led Washington to fire L'Enfant. However, <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/275">L'Enfant's design</a> for the city was still adopted and is visible in the grid and spoke pattern of Washington, DC, today.</p> George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. <a href="http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/P?mgw:7:./temp/~ammem_90ge::">View original.</a> 2/28/1792 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Pre-1800s">Pre-1800s</a>