Frank Lloyd Wright was born on June 8, 1867 in the farming town of Richland Center, Wisconsin.  His mother was credited as having foreseen Frank’s future as an architect, decorating his nursery with engravings of English cathedrals to encourage Frank's interests.  She also interested him in writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, who’s writings reflected a need for simplicity and purpose, a concept which permeated Wright’s work throughout his professional life. 

    Wright’s personal life was plagued by scandal.  He married Catherine Tobin in 1889 and had six children, but had an affair with a client's wife in 1903 that ended his marriage and almost destroyed his career.  After the woman was murdered by one of Wright’s servants, he remarried twice, finally settling down with his third wife, Olgavinna Hinzenburg.  Frank Lloyd Wright died on April 9, 1959 at the age of 91.