Bogardus, James definition of Bogardus, James in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Bogardus, James (bōgär`dəs), 1800–1874, American architect, b. Catskill, N.Y. Among the first to use cast iron in the construction of building facades, Bogardus was noted for his commercial building designs in New York City. Bogardus's success with cast-iron exteriors led eventually to the adoption of steel-frame construction for entire buildings. See cast-iron architecture cast-iron architecture, a term used to designate buildings that incorporate cast iron for structural and/or decorative purposes. After 1800 cast-iron supports were exploited as an alternative to masonry, and with the introduction of wrought-iron beams at mid-century,
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Bogardus, James (1800–74) inventor; born in Catskill, N.Y. After serving an apprenticeship in watchmaking, he patented the ring-flyer for cotton-spinning machinery (1830), made engraving machines in England (1836–39), and invented the first dry gas meter (patented, 1834). He erected the world's first cast-iron building—a five-story factory at the corner of Center and Duane Streets in New York City (1848)—and later erected many other iron buildings.