Nathan Bryan Whitfield
| Nathan Bryan Whitfield | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
September 19, 1799 Lenoir County, North Carolina |
| Died | December 27, 1868 (aged 69) Marengo County, Alabama |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch | North Carolina militia |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Nathan Bryan Whitfield (19 September 1799 in Lenoir County, North Carolina-27 December 1868 in Demopolis, Marengo County, Alabama) was a planter, architect and General of the North Carolina Militia during the American Civil War.
Born on the Whitfield family owned Pleasant Plains plantation (built by his grandfather William Whitfield II), to General Bryan Whitfield (1754-1817) a General of the American Revolutionary War, he attended school at the age of nine under a tutor and entered the University at the age of only twelve. At the age of just seventeen, he completed coursework at the University. Two years later, he became the Counselor of State for the State of North Carolina and was a State Senator. He was later commissioned to Major General rank to succeed his father. In 1789 he was one of the founders of the University of North Carolina and one of its first Trustees.
Gaineswood, the grandest plantation house ever built in Marengo County and one of the most significant remaining examples of Greek Revival architecture in Alabama. was designed and built by Whitfield, beginning in 1843 as an open-hall log dwelling. Whitfield is known to have designed most of the house from pattern books by James Stuart, Minard Lafever, Nicholas Revett and others. Much of the work on the house was executed by highly skilled artisan slaves. Whitfield moved from North Carolina to Marengo County, Alabama in 1834. In 1842 Whitfield bought the 480-acre (1.9 km2) property from George Strother Gaines, younger brother of Edmund P. Gaines.
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