Equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant

Last updated

Equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant
Equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant, Fairmount Park.jpg
The statue in 2023
Equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant
39°58′51″N75°11′52″W / 39.98083°N 75.19778°W / 39.98083; -75.19778
Location Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Designer Daniel Chester French
Edward Clark Potter
Frank Miles Day & Brother (pedestal)
Builder Bureau Brothers Foundry
Height30 feet (9.1 m)
Beginning date1892 [1]
Completion date1899 [1]
Dedicated dateApril 27, 1899
Dedicated to Ulysses S. Grant

The equestrian statue of Ulysses S. Grant is a public monument in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Located in Fairmount Park, the monument honors Ulysses S. Grant, who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later as President of the United States. The monument was designed by Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter and consists of an equestrian statue atop a pedestal. The statue was dedicated in 1899.

Contents

History

Background

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant 1870-1880.jpg
Ulysses S. Grant

The son of Jesse Root Grant and Hannah Simpson Grant, [2] Ulysses S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, United States on April 27, 1822. [3] In spring 1839, at the age of 17, Grant enrolled in the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, [4] graduating several years later in 1843. [5] Several years later, Grant saw action in the Mexican–American War. [5] At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Grant, who by this time had pursued a civilian career, returned to military service in the Union Army, [6] where he rose through the ranks as a commander, and in 1864 was promoted to lieutenant general. [7] Grant's military service culminated in Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865, [8] which marked the start of the conclusion of the American Civil War. Following the war, Grant was elected President of the United States in the 1868 United States presidential election, [9] a position he would hold until 1877. [10] Grant died several years after leaving office on July 23, 1885. [11]

Creation

Following Grant's death, the Fairmount Park Art Association in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania began to fundraise for the creation of a monument honoring Grant in the city's Fairmount Park. By March 1886, the association had raised $12,153.56, which by 1893 had grown to $23,450.50. Additionally, the Philadelphia City Council provided $9,000 in additional funding. Following this, the association accepted proposals from various American sculptors, ultimately selecting Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter to design an equestrian statue of Grant, with French designing the sculpture of Grant and Potter designing the horse. They were officially commissioned on January 23, 1894. [12] The statue was cast by the Bureau Brothers Foundry in Philadelphia, [13] with the statue's pedestal designed by Frank Miles Day & Brother. [14] The total cost for the construction of the monument was $32,675.35. [14]

Dedication

By Fall 1897, the monument was completed and put in place in Fairmount Park, with tentative plans to unveil the monument on April 27, 1898 (Grant's birthday). However, the sinking of the USS Maine and the subsequent declaration of the Spanish–American War in 1898 caused the dedication ceremony to be delayed. Subsequently, the ceremony was rescheduled to October 27, 1898 (Military Day). [15] However, issues related to an associated military parade caused the ceremony to once more be rescheduled to April 27, 1899. [16] In Fall 1898, President William McKinley was invited to attend the ceremony, which he accepted. [14] Additional invitations were extended to members of the President's cabinet, several military officers, and members of Grant's family. [17] At 2:00 p.m. on the date of the ceremony, a procession was held through the city to Fairmount Park, with President McKinley escorted by the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. [18] In addition to the previously listed guests, the procession included many consuls. [19] At 3:00 p.m., the procession ended and the guests took their places near the monument. [19]

With the guests in place at the monument, the First Battalion, Naval Force of Pennsylvania performed a 21-gun salute for the President. [20] Following this, Philadelphia Mayor Samuel Howell Ashbridge introduced Bishop Ozi William Whitaker of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, who gave an invocation for the monument. [21] This prayer was followed by an address by Ashbridge, [22] after which the monument was officially presented to the city by John H. Converse, the president of the Fairmount Park Art Association. [23] As Converse's speech came to a close, Algernon Edward Sartoris and his sister Rosemary Sartoris (grandchildren of Ulysses S. Grant) moved to the top of a large platform next to the monument and removed the bunting that covered the statue. A 17-gun salute was performed by troops at the ceremony, which was followed by another 17-gun salute performed by the USS Raleigh, which was anchored nearby in the Delaware River. [24] An American flag, which had been used by General Nelson A. Miles at his headquarters in Ponce, Puerto Rico, was draped around the pedestal. It had been sent to be used in the ceremony by the National Society, Children of the American Revolution. [24]

Following the statue's unveiling, an additional speech was given and French and Potter were introduced to the crowd, to large applaud. [25] Three wreaths were placed on the pedestal, presented by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (which Grant had been a member of), Chinese ambassador to the United States Wu Tingfang, and the Society of Daughters of the Revolution. [25] Afterwards, another parade was held with President McKinley and other distinguished guests, [26] which was followed by a celebratory dinner held at the Union League of Philadelphia. [27] The final part of the festivities related to the monument's dedication took place later that night at the Academy of Music, where multiple orations were given regarding Grant and the statue. [28]

Design

Closeup of the statue US Grant French 1.JPG
Closeup of the statue

According to a publication issued by the Fairmount Park Art Association after the monument's unveiling, the statue depicts a moment when Grant is surveying a battlefield. Ulysses's son Frederick Dent Grant assisted the sculptors in the design of Grant's hat and overcoat. The statue of the horse is modeled after General Grant, a gelding descended from a horse owned by Grant. [13] The statue weighs approximately 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) and has a height of slightly over 15 feet (4.6 m). The granite pedestal for the statue is a pale pink and also has a height of slightly over 15 feet (4.6 m). The front of the pedestal features a bronze wreath surrounding the word "GRANT". [14]

The monument is located at the intersection of Fountain Green Drive and East Park River Drive inside the park. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Clark Potter</span> American sculptor

Edward Clark Potter was an American sculptor best known for his equestrian and animal statues. His most famous works are the marble lions, nicknamed Patience and Fortitude, in front of the New York Public Library Main Branch

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Milne Calder</span> American sculptor (1846–1923)

Alexander Milne Calder (MILL-nee) was a Scottish American sculptor best known for the architectural sculpture of Philadelphia City Hall. Both his son, Alexander Stirling Calder, and grandson, Sandy Calder, became significant sculptors in the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulysses S. Grant Memorial</span> US historic place in Washington, D.C.

The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is a presidential memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring American Civil War general and 18th United States President Ulysses S. Grant. It sits at the base of Capitol Hill, below the west front of the United States Capitol. Its central sculpture of Grant on horseback faces west, overlooking the Capitol Reflecting Pool and facing toward the Lincoln Memorial, which honors Grant's wartime president, Abraham Lincoln. Grant's statue is raised on a pedestal decorated with bronze reliefs of the infantry; flanking pedestals hold statues of protective lions and bronze representations of the Union cavalry and artillery. The whole is connected with marble covered platforms, balustrades, and stairs. The Grant and Lincoln memorials define the eastern and western ends, respectively, of the National Mall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Edwin Bissell</span> American sculptor

George Edwin Bissell was an American sculptor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Massey Rhind</span> Scottish-American sculptor

John Massey Rhind was a Scottish-American sculptor. Among Rhind's better known works is the marble statue of Dr. Crawford W. Long located in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington D.C. (1926).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith Memorial Arch</span> Memorial arch in Pennsylvania, U.S.

Smith Memorial Arch is an American Civil War monument at South Concourse and Lansdowne Drive in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Built on the former grounds of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, it serves as a gateway to West Fairmount Park. The Memorial consists of two colossal columns supported by curving, neo-Baroque arches, and adorned with 13 individual portrait sculptures ; two eagles standing on globes; and architectural reliefs of eight allegorical figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of George B. McClellan</span> Equestrian statue in Washington, D.C.

Major General George B. McClellan is an equestrian statue in Washington, D.C. that honors politician and Civil War general George B. McClellan. The monument is sited on a prominent location in the Kalorama Triangle neighborhood due to efforts made by area residents. The statue was sculpted by American artist Frederick William MacMonnies, a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts whose best known work is a statue of Nathan Hale in New York City. MacMonnies was chosen to design the statue following a lengthy competition organized by a statue commission, led by then Secretary of War William Howard Taft. The monument was dedicated in 1907, with prominent attendees at the ceremony including President Theodore Roosevelt, New York City mayor George B. McClellan Jr., politicians, generals and thousands of military personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Otto Schweizer</span> American sculptor (1863–1955)

Jakob Otto Schweizer was a Swiss-American sculptor noted for his work on war memorials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument</span>

The General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument is an equestrian statue of American Civil War Major General William Tecumseh Sherman located in Sherman Plaza, which is part of President's Park in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The selection of an artist in 1896 to design the monument was highly controversial. During the monument's design phase, artist Carl Rohl-Smith died, and his memorial was finished by a number of other sculptors. The Sherman statue was unveiled in 1903. It is a contributing property to the Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C. and to the President's Park South, both of which are historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Monument (Philadelphia)</span> Statue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lincoln Monument (Philadelphia) is a monument honoring Abraham Lincoln in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of the first initiated in memory of the assassinated president, the monument was designed by neoclassical sculptor Randolph Rogers and completed in 1871. It is now located northeast of the intersection of Kelly Drive and Sedgley Drive, opposite Boathouse Row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James A. Garfield Monument (Philadelphia)</span> Sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens

The James A. Garfield Monument is a monument honoring the 20th President of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and architect Stanford White collaborated on the memorial, which was completed in 1896. It is located in Fairmount Park, along Kelly Drive, near the Girard Avenue Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Charles Devens</span> Equestrian statue in Worcester, US

The equestrian statue of Charles Devens is a public monument in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Located in front of the old Worcester County Courthouse in the Institutional District, the equestrian statue honors Charles Devens, who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later served as United States Attorney General. The statue was designed by Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter and was dedicated on July 4, 1906.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of the Marquis de Lafayette (Lafayette College)</span> Statue in Easton, Pennsylvania, US

Marquis de Lafayette is a monumental statue on the campus of Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. The statue, designed by Daniel Chester French and standing on a pedestal designed by Henry Bacon, was dedicated in 1921 in honor of the college's namesake, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. The statue is located at the south entrance of Colton Chapel. It is one of a number of sculptures made by French for universities, which includes the statue of John Harvard at Harvard University and Alma Mater at Columbia University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of George Meade (Philadelphia)</span> Statue of George Meade in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Major General George Gordon Meade is an equestrian statue that stands in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The statue, which was unveiled in 1887, was designed by sculptor Alexander Milne Calder and honors George Meade, who had served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was later a commissioner for the park. The statue is one of two statues of Meade at Fairmount, with the other one being a part of the Smith Memorial Arch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulysses S. Grant Monument</span> Monument in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois

The Ulysses S. Grant Monument is a presidential memorial in Chicago, honoring American Civil War general and 18th President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant. Located in Lincoln Park, the statue was commissioned shortly after the president's death in 1885 and was completed in 1891. Several artists submitted sketches, and Louis Rebisso was selected to design the statue, with a granite pedestal suggested by William Le Baron Jenney. At the time of its completion, the monument was the largest bronze statue cast in the United States, and over 250,000 people were present at the dedication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Ambrose Burnside</span> Equestrian statue in Providence, US

Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, also known as the Ambrose Burnside Monument, is a monumental equestrian statue in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The statue, located in the city's Burnside Park, was designed by sculptor Launt Thompson and depicts Ambrose Burnside, an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who later served as the governor of Rhode Island. Ambrose had died in 1881 and the project to erect a statue in his honor began shortly afterwards. It was dedicated on July 4, 1887 in a large ceremony that included several notable guests of honor, such as General William Tecumseh Sherman, Colonel Robert Hale Ives Goddard, and the governors of both Connecticut and Rhode Island. The monument was originally located in Exchange Place, but it was moved to its current location in the early 1900s. As part of the move, the pedestal was replaced with one designed by William R. Walker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of David McMurtrie Gregg</span>

Major General David McMurtrie Gregg is a monumental statue located in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. The monument was designed by Henry Augustus Lukeman and consists of an equestrian statue depicting David McMurtrie Gregg, a military officer who had served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The monument was dedicated in 1922, several years after Gregg's death in Reading in 1916.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Matthias W. Baldwin</span>

Matthias William Baldwin is a monumental statue located outside Philadelphia City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The statue honors industrialist and philanthropist Matthias W. Baldwin and was designed by sculptor Herbert Adams. It was dedicated in 1906 and moved to its present location in 1921.

References

Bibliography