Pierre L'Enfant was a French-American architect and civil engineer best known for designing the layout of Washington, D.C.. Born in 1754 in Paris, he moved to the United States in 1785 and was commissioned by George Washington to create a plan for the new capital city. His design featured wide avenues, public squares, and a grand layout that reflected the ideals of the new nation. L'Enfant's vision for Washington, D.C. was ambitious, incorporating elements of European city planning. However, he faced challenges with local officials and was eventually dismissed from the project in 1792. Despite this, his original plan laid the foundation for the city’s development and remains influential today.