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George Minot Dexter
American architect and engineer (b November 15, 1802--d November 26, 1872)

Parents: Aaron Dexter and Rebecca Amory

Early Life
Born in Boston in 1802, Dexter was the son of Dr. Aaron Dexter, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and one of the founding members of the Massachusetts Medical Society. George M. Dexter had six siblings: Thomas A. Dexter, Charles P. Dexter, John M. Dexter, Mrs. William D. Sohier, Catherine Dexter, and Marian Dexter. He entered the class of 1821 at Harvard College. Due to ill health, however, he left before graduating and went to Paris where he developed an interest in architecture and engineering.

Career
1831 Returning to Boston, Dexter became a student in the office of the civil engineer, Loammi Baldwin, Jr.

1834  After working as an assistant engineer on the construction of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, Dexter was commissioned by Patrick Tracy Jackson to design houses in    Boston's Pemberton Square. He was also responsible for all of the accompanying ironwork: stair railings, fences, and lampposts.

1847--1849 He assisted Edward Clarke Cabot in building the Boston Athenaeum.

1847  Dexter designed The Fitchburg (MA) Railroad Depot. Although the building was described as having "an air of imperishable permanence," it was dismantled at the turn of the century and one of its towers is now in North Truro, Massachusetts, where it serves as a memorial to Jenny Lind, who once gave a concert at the depot.

1850---1852 Dexter served as the second president of The Boston Society of Civil Engineers.

1851  Dexter designed houses for himself and Amos Lawrence on Ivy Street, in Brookline, Massachusetts.

After sixteen years as an architect, with over 100 commissions, Dexter left the profession and became president of the Vermont and Canadian Railroad. His practice was assumed by Nathaniel J. Bradlee.

Works
Dexter, George M. Architectural Drawing of George M. Dexter, 1836-1851.