Statue of James Wolfe

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General James Wolfe
Statue of General Wolfe, Greenwich Royal Observatory - geograph.org.uk - 3624175.jpg
Statue of James Wolfe
Artist R. Tait McKenzie
Completion date1930
Subject James Wolfe
Location London
Coordinates 51°28′40″N0°00′03″W / 51.4778°N 0.0008°W / 51.4778; -0.0008
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameStatue of General Wolfe, to East of Royal Observatory
Designated8 June 1973
Reference no.1358977

The statue ofJames Wolfe is a bronze statue of James Wolfe to the east of Greenwich Observatory which has been Grade II listed since June 1973. [1]

Wolfe is most commonly known for his capture of Quebec in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, where he died in battle in 1759. It has been said that shortly before his death he quoted Gray's Elegy "The paths of glory lead but to the grave". The significance of the battle and Wolfe's death during it would paint him as a hero in the public consciousness. [2] The statue's site is close to Macartney House, where Wolfe lived for some time, and St Alfege Church where he is buried. [3]

The statue was given as a gift by the Canadian people, and is a work of the Canadian sculptor R. Tait McKenzie. It was unveiled in 1930 by the Marquis de Montcalm, a descendant of the opposing general whom Wolfe had faced at the Plains of Abraham. [4] It stands on the top of Greenwich Hill, overlooking the Old Royal Naval College and much of London beyond. The site was part of a 1799 proposal by John Flaxman to build a grand 230 ft tall monumental statue dedicated to Britain's victory at the Battle of the Nile.

References

  1. ↑ "Statue of General Wolfe, to East of Royal Observatory, Non Civil Parish – 1358977 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Blackwood, John; Irwin, Caroline, eds. (1989). London's immortals: the complete outdoor commemorative statues (1. publ ed.). London: Savoy Press. p. 283. ISBN   978-0-9514296-0-0.
  3. ↑ Baker, Margaret (2002). Discovering London statues and monuments. Discovering series (5. ed., revised and updated ed.). Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. p. 187. ISBN   978-0-7478-0495-6.
  4. ↑ Matthews, Peter (2012). London's statues and monuments. Shire library. Oxford: Shire Publications. p. 200. ISBN   978-0-7478-0798-8.
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