Samuel McIntire was a Salem architect and furniture maker active during the late 18th and early 19th century. One of the predominate Salem architects of his day, he designed Hamilton Hall, the Gardner-Pingree House, the Peirce-Nichols House, and many other public and private buildings. The furniture crafted by McIntire is considered to be among the best examples of the Federalist style.

For a more detailed biography, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Samuel McIntire, the son of Joseph and Sarah (Ruck) McIntire, was baptized in the First Church of Salem on January 16, 1757. Joseph and Sarah had three daughters, Sarah, Ruth, and Deborah, and two other sons, Joseph (bp. Jan. 24, 1747/8-June 10, 1825) and Angier (bp. May 20, 1759-circa May 27, 1803). (Joseph and Sarah also had one other child, whose name is not known.) Joseph McIntire Sr. was a housewright, and his three sons all learned this trade and continued the family business. In addition to being carpenters, Joseph Jr., Samuel, and Angier became skilled wood-carvers, and Samuel became a skilled architect.

Samuel McIntire's work falls into three major categories: architectural design (of buildings and details), architectural woodwork (for buildings), and woodcarvings (including decorative carvings on furniture and ships, wooden figures, and some wooden sculpture). Samuel McIntire's architectural designs ranged from houses (including his own house on Summer Street, Jerathmiel Peirce's house, John Gardner's house, Francis Boardman's house, three houses for Elias Hasket Derby, and Oak Hill in Peabody, Massachusetts) to civic buildings (most notably the Salem Courthouse, which was built in 1785-86 and demolished in 1839, and Hamilton Hall) to churches (including the South Church, the cupola of the North Church in Salem, and the steeple of the Branch Church in Salem) to commercial buildings, stables and summerhouses. The architectural ornamentations he completed were known for their quality and style. Some motifs McIntire incorporated into these designs were baskets of fruit, sheaves of wheat, swags, and decorative moldings, columns and pilasters. The woodcarvings he completed included furniture, eagles, ship figures, portrait figures (including a bust of Governor John Winthrop), and a medallion of George Washington.

Samuel McIntire married Elizabeth Field on October 31, 1778. Their first child, Samuel Field McIntire, was baptized on August 29, 1779, but died in infancy. Their second child, also named Samuel Field McIntire, was baptized in November 1780. Samuel Field McIntire continued the family business, working mainly as a wood-carver. When Samuel McIntire died on February 6, 1811, his obituaries praised him for his skills as an architect, sculptor, and musician, and commented upon his fine character.

Image source:
Attributed to Samuel Blyth (American, 1744-1795)
Portrait of Samuel McIntire, about 1782 
Pastel on paper 
Gift of the Estate of Mr. George W. Low, 1938 123420 
Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum

This collection also contains material relating to the following relatives of Samuel McIntire:

Joseph McIntire (1727-1776), Samuel's father, worked as a housewright.

Joseph McIntire (1748-1825), Samuel's brother, worked as a housewright, shipwright, and carver.

Angier McIntire (1759-1803), Samuel's brother, worked as a housewright, shipwright, and carver.

Robert McIntire (1727-1769), Samuel's uncle, worked as a housewright.

John McIntire (1729-1785), Samuel's uncle, worked as wheelwright, carpenter, and mariner.

Nathaniel McIntire (bp. 1744- ?), Samuel's uncle, worked as a housewright.

Samuel Field McIntire (1780-1819), Samuel's son, worked as a carver.

Joseph McIntire (1779-1852), Samuel's nephew, worked as a housewright and carver.

Thomas McIntire (circa 1784-1870), Samuel's nephew, worked as an organ builder and woodworker.

Sarah Field McIntire (1804-?), Samuel's granddaughter, married Eliphalet Page in Salem in 1828, moved to New Hampshire, and had two daughters.