John Nash was born in London in 1752. He trained as an architect but after being bequeathed a large sum of money, Nash retired to Wales. However, Nash lost his inheritance after making some bad investments and in 1792 he was forced to return to work as an architect.

Nash's work came to the attention of the Prince Regent (later George IV) who commissioned him to design Regent's Park and its environs of curved terraces. This was followed by the design of Carlton House Terrace, Trafalgar Square, St. James's Park and the Marble Arch.

George IV also arranged for Nash to create Buckingham Palace out of Buckingham House and the rebuilding of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. John Nash died in 1835.