August Welby Pugin, the son of the French artist, Auguste Pugin (1762-1832), was born in London in 1812. When August was born his father had just completed The Microcosm of London, with William Pyne and Thomas Rowlandson. Educated at Christ's Hospital School, Pugin was trained at his father's office in London.

In 1834 most of the Old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire. Pugin and Charles Barry were commissioned to design and build a new House of Commons and a House of Lords.

A convert to Roman Catholicism, Pugin designed several Catholic churches, including Birmingham Cathedral and St. Osward's Church in Liverpool. Pugin also wrote several books including Contrasts in Architecture (1836), True Principles of Christian Architecture (1841) and Chancel Screens (1851). August Welby Pugin died in 1852.