John Wells (1789–1864) was an English-born architect whose work was featured at the Royal Academy in the 1820s. He is best remembered for his contributions in Montreal, Quebec, particularly for designing the Bank of Montreal Head Office and St. Anne's Market, which later became the site of Montreal’s Parliament Buildings. Born in Norwich, Wells trained as a carpenter before moving into architecture. He worked on the facade of St. Mary Moorfields in London and later showcased his designs at the Royal Academy in 1823 and 1828. Driven by the rapid growth and urban development, he moved to Montreal around 1830, where his first major project was constructing the city's new prison. In 1832, he built Ste. Anne's Market, which stood until the Parliament Buildings were burned. In 1834, Wells was hired by John Redpath and Peter McGill to design St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. Over the years, he completed various religious buildings for different denominations, including Chalmers-Wesley United Church. His reputation also earned him private commissions from Montreal’s elite, such as Notman House (1845) and the Prince of Wales Terrace (1860) for Sir George Simpson. Despite his influence on Montreal’s architectural scene, Wells is often overlooked, as noted in 'The Canadian Encyclopedia', due to the loss of many of his works. Wells passed away in Montreal on April 26, 1864, leaving behind at least one son, G.H. Wells, and a daughter, Deborah Wadsworth.

John Wells (architect) - Wikipedia