James Freret was a prolific architect

Architect

An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...

 who practiced in New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

.

He studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.

His cousin William A. Freret

William A. Freret

William Alfred Freret was an American architect. He served from 1887 to 1888 as head of the Office of the Supervising Architect, which oversaw construction of Federal buildings....

, also an architect, and son of New Orleans mayor William Freret

William Freret

William Freret was Mayor of New Orleans from May 10, 1840 to Apr. 4, 1842, and again from Feb. 27, 1843 to May 12, 1844....

, designed the Old Louisiana State Capital, Baton Rouge, and headed the Office of the Supervising Architect

Office of the Supervising Architect

The Office of the Supervising Architect was an agency of the United States Treasury Department that designed federal government buildings from 1852 to 1939....

 in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

. James designed the Moresque Building together with William. James designed many residences in and near New Orleans.

Works include:

• Moresque Building, New Orleans, LA (with William A. Freret) Destroyed by fire in 1897.
• Board of Trade
  Board of Trade
  The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
  
   building, New Orleans, LA
• Lemann Store, 314 Mississippi St. Donaldsonville, LA (Freret,James), NRHP-listed
• Administration Building of the Spring Hill College Quadrangle, 4307 Old Shell Rd. Mobile, AL (Freret,James), NRHP-listed
• One or more works in Upper Central Business District (Boundary Increase II), roughly bounded by O'Keefe, Poydras, Convention Center Blvd., St. Rt. 90 and Howard Ave. New Orleans, LA (Freret and Wolf), NRHP-listed