He was born on December 15, 1837 in New York City, New York, United States. He was the son of Joel Browne Post and Abby Mauran (Church).
His immigrant ancestor on his father's side was Lieut. Richard Post, who came to Southampton, Long Island, from Lynn, Massachussets, in 1640; on his mother's side, he was descended from Col. Benjamin Church, a leader in King Philip's War, who was born at Duxbury, Massachussets, in 1639 and later settled in Rhode Island.
Education
George Post was educated at Churchill's Military School, Ossining, New York, and later at New York University, where he graduated with the degree of B. S. in civil engineering in 1858. Being interested chiefly in architecture, he then entered the office of Richard Morris Hunt as a student draftsman, remaining until 1860.
Career
He formed an architectural partnership with Charles D. Gambrill in 1860. The Civil War put an end to their thoughts of architecture, however, and Post, who had previously been a captain in the "Union Greys, " was on September 24, 1861, commissioned a captain of Company C, 22nd Regiment, New York National Guard. He was volunteer aide to General Burnside at the battle of Fredericksburg. On November 3, 1863, he was elected major, and after the war he became lieutenant-colonel in 1866, and colonel in 1867; but in 1868 press of business forced him to resign his commission.
The war had effectually stopped what work the partnership of Gambrill & Post had enjoyed; it was therefore dissolved, and Post opened his own office. His first important work, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, New York City, came in 1874. It was one of the early banks in the country to be built in Renaissance style, with a dome. From that time Post's practice grew rapidly. In 1869, he had served as consulting architect for the New York Equitable Building, of which Arthur Delevan Gilman was the designer, and had been instrumental in making it a pioneer in the use of elevators and also in the extensive use of iron floor beams.
Among his most important business buildings were the original New York Times Building (1889); Pulitzer Building (1889 - 92) and the 22-story St. Paul Building in New York which, when it was built (1897 - 99), was the highest in the city.
In the nineties he published a project for a 500-foot tower which, like a somewhat similar project published about the same time by Bruce Price, shows many elements later given expression in Le Brun's Metropolitan Tower. In addition to his commercial buildings, Post designed many of the largest residences of the time. The Cornelius Vanderbilt House at Fifty-seventh Street and Fifth Avenue (1889), in 1895 much enlarged and carried through to Fifty-eighth Street are early and remarkable examples of his work, much admired in their day, and extraordinarily lavish both outside and in.
Later he won the competition for the College of the City of New York, and the earlier buildings of this group, in native stone and white terra cotta (built 1902 - 11) are by him. He designed the Wisconsin State Capitol, which was begun in 1904 although its construction spread over many years.
Towards the end of his life, Post became much interested in hotels. The Oswego Hotel, and the Hotel Pontiac, Detroit (1911 - 12), began this development; in the Statler Hotel, Cleveland (1911 - 12), the type found its first complete expression. Post's interest was chiefly structural; there is little artistic unity in his buildings. He was an accomplished water colorist and made many of his firm's renderings.
He was president of the New York Architectural League (1893 - 97); president of the National Arts Club (1898 - 1905); a member of the American Institute of Architects from 1860, president, 1896-99, and president of the New York chapter in 1905. He became an Associate of the National Academy of Design in 1906, and an Academician in 1908.
In 1905 he took two of his sons into partnership, organizing the firm of George B. Post & Sons, which still continues architectural practice. He died suddenly at his country home, Bernardsville, New Jersey.
Achievements
Views
His interest had always been in the engineering side of architecture, and the field of high buildings.
Membership
He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1907 he was made an honorary member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Personality
He was a capable business man. Post was a tireless worker, and a driver with the capacity of arousing the enthusiasm of those he drove. He traveled abroad nearly every year, returning laden with sketches.
Connections
Post married October 14, 1863, Alice Matilda Stone, daughter of William W. Stone; they had four sons and a daughter.