Statues, monuments and plaques are a natural focus for my camera. So take a look here at men and women commemorated for posterity in stone.
This statue of the DUKE OF WELLINGTON, victor against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, shows him on his favourite horse Copenhagen. The statue was erected in 1852, outside the building that houses the National Records of Scotland, a "must visit" destination if you are researching Scottish family history.
WILLIAM WALLACE was the Scottish Patriot during the Wars of Independence when he defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and became Guardian of Scotland until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. He was captured In 1305, handed over to Edward I of England who had him summarily hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason.
Wallace's statue near Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders looks across to the distant Eildon Hills. Commissioned by the Earl of Buchan, it was the first monument to be raised to Wallace in Scotland. In red sandstone and 21.5 feet high, it was placed on its pedestal in 1814.
This statue of ABRAHAM LINCOLN is thought to be the only monument to the American Civil War outside the USA. It was erected in the Old Carlton Burial Ground. Edinburgh in 1898 in memory of the Scottish
soldiers who fought in the American Civil War on the side of the Union.
It features a freed slave and one of Lincoln’s famous quotations "To preserve the jewel of liberty in the framework of freedom". A
bronze shield bears the old US flag, and is wreathed in thistles to the
left, and cotton to the right to signify the two countries.
Calton
Cemetery just off Princes Street, was opened in 1718 as a
non-denominational burial ground and is the resting place of prominent merchants and other notable worthies of the city.
U.S. PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT maternal
ancestors are remembered in this plaque at the Murray Aisle in the Old
Kirkyard, Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. Roosevelt's mother was a
Murray with Border connections.
The plaque also pays tribute to Scottish patriot William Wallace.
SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832) was born in Edinburgh, but grew up in the Scottish Borders and later made his home at Abbotsford on the banks of the River Tweed, near Melrose. He was internationally renowned as a historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. The Scott Monument (below) is a prominent feature in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh and believed to be the second largest monument to a writer in the world.
WILLIAM CHAMBERS (1800-1883)
was born in Peebles in the Scottish Borders and moved to Edinburgh
in 1814 to work in the book-selling trade. He soon branched out into
publishing, founding in 1832 with his brother Robert the firm of W.
& R. Chambers. He was a keen advocate of popular education, and the firm became known in particular for its dictionaries.
The
business prospered, and William was made Lord Provost of the capital
city. He was responsible for many city developments including the
restoration of St. Giles Cathedral. His statue is in in street that
bears his name, by Edinburgh University and The National Museum of
Scotland. He also gifted to his native town of Peebles the Chambers Museum and Library.
