Statue: Roosevelt statue
Erection date: 12/4/1948
{On the front (south facing) of the plinth:}
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
1882 -1945
{On the base of the statue:}
W-Reid Dick, 1947
{The statue’s pillar is at the centre of a raised platform with a low stand at each corner. On the top of each of these a date is carved, clockwise from south-west corner:}
1932
1936
1940
1944
{These are the dates of the four Presidential elections that he won.}
{On either side of this platform there is a paved area with seating and a fountain at the centre. Carved into the walls of these area are the phrases:}
Freedom from want.
Freedom from fear.
Freedom of speech.
Freedom to worship.
This is a rare representation of Roosevelt standing, albeit with a stick. A notice board informs: "This memorial represents contributions in small sums from people in every walk of life throughout the United Kingdom who wished to remember him. It owes its inception to the pilgrims of Great Britain who through a memorial committee took the necessary steps to secure its erection. It was unveiled by Mrs Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the presence of King George VI." And we thank Jamie Davis for finding this link to the British Pathe news film of the unveiling.
Site: Roosevelt statue (1 memorial)
W1, Grosvenor Square
The gardens, previously oval, were replanned as part of the installation of this statue.
Note: Carl Larsen draws our attention to one memorial that could be here but isn't: while walking in Grosvenor Square on 14 July 1965 Adlai Stevenson, the American politician, suffered a heart attack and died later that day at St George's Hospital.
Go to map of other memorials in this area
