William Le Baron Jenney (1832-1907) was one of the most influential American architects of the late 19th century. Working almost exclusively in Chicago, Jenney made important advancements in the structure of tall office buildings by incorporating iron and steel in his designs.

Jenney was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, a small town near New Bedford, on September 25, 1832. He was the son of William Proctor, a prosperous owner of a fleet of whaling ships, and Eliza Le Baron (Gibbs) Jenney. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. After graduating, he traveled to California in 1849 to participate in the gold rush.

While in San Francisco, Jenney witnessed the rapid rebuilding of the city with brick structures after many wood buildings were destroyed by fire in 1850. He then journeyed to the Philippines and the South Seas. In the Philippines, he became intrigued by the durability of the native huts built of light...