Statue: George Peabody statue
Erection date: 23/7/1869
{Engraved on the front of the granite plinth:}
George Peabody MDCCCLXIX
{On a bronze plaque attached below:}
Born Danvers, Mass, U.S.A. 18th February 1795. Died London England 4th November 1869. American philanthropist and great benefactor of the London poor. Accorded the honorary freedom of the City of London 10th July 1862. This statue by W. W. Story was unveiled on the 23rd July 1869.
{On the base of the statue:}
Ferd. v. Miller fudit, Munchen 1869.
Unveiled by the then Prince of Wales, unusually in the subject's lifetime. Too ill to attend the ceremony Peabody died 3 months later. We know of only a handful of London statues erected in the lifetime of the original and we list them at Fenner Brockway. We thank David Brown for enabling us to add Peabody to the list.
Site: George Peabody statue (1 memorial)
EC4, Royal Exchange Buildings
We've heard it said that this is the only seated statue in London but we can name 3 others: the Roosevelt and Churchill double, the ballet dancer at the Bow Street plaque, and Brunel at Paddington, although that is under cover, so perhaps doesn't count. Perhaps it used to be true.
Sorry about the glare in the picture. We're sure proper photographers would tut but we rather like it.
Go to map of other memorials in this area
