Peter Lenox (ca. 1770–1832), carpenter, was a native of Williamsburg who received a public-school education and probably his craft apprenticeship in Richmond. About 1792 he moved to the emerging federal capital of Washington. Lenox joined a crew of artisans directed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe to complete construction of the President’s House, 1797–98. He worked there again during TJ’s presidency and made extensive repairs and alterations (often at TJ’s direction), including adding a cellar, stable, and shed. Lenox also undertook commissions for TJ, improving the icehouse at the President’s House and building packing boxes, a coffin for an infant slave, venetian blinds for Monticello, and a frame for the Mammoth Cheese. Continuing at the President’s House as foreman during the administration of James Madison, Lenox served after the invasion fire of 1814 as foreman and clerk to supervise restoration work, 1815–17. In the latter year he became chief carpenter and clerk of construction at the Capitol, a position he held for twelve years. He also managed private construction projects and invested in building materials and real estate. Lenox was civically active from about 1802 until his death, serving variously as a militia officer, city councilman and alderman, trustee of the poor, inspector and measurer of lumber, and member of the board of appeal. He helped direct the defense of Washington during the War of 1812. Later he served on the boards of the Bank of the Metropolis, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, and the Baltimore Potomac Steam Packet Company. At his death Lenox owned extensive property in Washington and $1,000 in city corporation stock, and his will directed that his five slaves be emancipated gradually during the decade after his death (Glenn Brown, History of the United States Capitol [1900–03], 1:96–7; Latrobe, Papers description begins John C. Van Horne and others, eds., The Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1984–88, 3 vols. description ends ; William Seale, The President’s House: A History, 2 vols. [1986]; MB description begins James A. Bear Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends ; Georgetown Olio, 22 July 1802; Acts of the Corporation of the City of Washington [1804]: 31; [1813]: 48; Lenox to TJ, 26 May 1804 and subjoined 30 May 1804 notes by TJ [MHi]; TJ to Lenox, 20 July 1806 [DLC]; Washington National Intelligencer, 25 May 1808; Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 31 vols.  Congress. Ser., 17 vols.  Pres. Ser., 6 vols.  Sec. of State Ser., 8 vols description ends , Pres. Ser., 1:48–9; Latrobe to TJ, 12 July 1815; Baltimore Patriot & Evening Advertiser, 14 Apr. 1815; City of Washington Gazette, 3 Apr. 1819, 10 July, 2 Aug. 1820; Washington Gazette, 20 Sept., 1 Dec. 1821; Richmond Enquirer, 16 June 1829, 22 June 1830; Baltimore Patriot & Mercantile Advertiser, 5 Jan. 1831; Washington Daily National Intelligencer, 5 Dec. 1832; Wesley E. Pippenger, comp., District of Columbia Probate Records: Will Books 1 Through 6, 1801–1852 and Estate Files, 1801–1852 [2003], 179–80).

In a statute dated 7 Mar. 1812, the United States Congress appropriated nearly $17,000 to complete renovations of the patent and post offices and authorized Postmaster General Gideon granger to oversee the work (U.S. Statutes at Large description begins Richard Peters, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States … 1789 to March 3, 1845, 1845–67, 8 vols. description ends , 2:691–2). Late in 1810 Lenox had begun building shelves for the patent office. Latrobe sent his report and plans for a United States marine hospital to Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton on 3 July 1812, but the facility was never constructed (Latrobe, Papers description begins John C. Van Horne and others, eds., The Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1984–88, 3 vols. description ends , 2:899, 938, 3:330–6).