Robert Swain Peabody (February 22, 1845-September 23, 1917) died on this day at his summer home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Cofounder of the renowned Boston architectural firm of Peabody & Stearns, he was one of the select east-coast architects invited by Daniel Burnham to contribute to the design of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Despite his pessimistic statement in 1891 about the prospect of constructing the World’s Fair on the rough grounds of Jackson Park (“It can’t be done”), his firm provided magnificent designs for Machinery Hall (also known as “The Palace of Mechanic Arts”) and the Massachusetts State Building.

Machinery Hall [Image from Picturesque World’s Fair. An Elaborate Collection of Colored Views (W. B. Conkey, 1894).]

The Massachusetts State Building. [Image from Picturesque World’s Fair. An Elaborate Collection of Colored Views (W. B. Conkey, 1894).]