John Goddard Stearns Jr.

John Goddard Stearns Jr. was an American architect and cofounder of the prominent Boston based firm Peabody and Stearns.

Biography

John Goddard Stearns Jr. was born May 18, 1843, in New York City. He was the oldest son of John Goddard Stearns Sr. and Elizabeth Stearns, and was descendent of Richard Warren. Stearns moved to Brookline, Massachusetts in 1861 and he remained a Brookline resident for the remainder of his life.
Stearns was educated at Harvard University's Lawrence Scientific School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and graduated in 1863. After graduating, Stearns entered the Boston architectural firm of Ware & Van Brunt and eventually became head draftsman for the firm. In 1870, Stearns partnered with Robert Swain Peabody, who also worked at Ware & Van Brunt, to form Peabody and Stearns.

Peabody and Stearns

Stearns made a significant contribution to his firm and the architectural profession. He combined his technical engineering training with his "true engineer's instinct" and had a keen sense of order and proportion in planning and design. He was dedicated to overseeing the firm's projects, ensuring they progressed smoothly and avoided any potential issues.
He believed in the importance of thoroughness and insisted on high-quality work according to the specifications and contracts he established using his extensive knowledge of construction, building materials, and methods. This approach represented a significant departure from the lax practices of the past.
Peabody and Stearns designed numerous buildings over their 47-year partnership, some of which include:

Stearns was a member of the American Institute of Architects and elected a Fellow in 1894. He was also member of the Boston Society of Architects and the St. Botolph Club in Boston.

Family and death

Stearns married Ellen Elizabeth Abbott on December 5, 1866, and had two children. Their son, Frank A. Stearns, was also an architect. He continued his father's firm with W. Cornell Appleton as Appleton & Stearns after his death. Stearns died September 16, 1917, at his summer home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, less than three weeks after Peabody.