William Donthorne

William John Donthorn (Donthorne in some sources) (1799 – 18 May 1859) was an English architect, and one of the founders of what became the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). He was born in Swaffham, Norfolk. He was a pupil of Sir Jeffry Wyattville from 1817 to 1820, and as part of his training, exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1817. He worked both in the Gothic and Classical styles but is perhaps best known for his severe Greek Revival country houses, most of which have been demolished. In 1834 he was one of several prominent architects to form the Institute of British Architects in London (later the RIBA). A large number of his drawings are in the RIBA drawings collection, now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum. His work is analysed by Roderick O'Donnell as architecture "with great hardness and decision in the edges".