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Title
John Elder (1824–1869)
Date
1887–1888
Medium
bronze on red Peterhead granite & grey Aberdeen granite
Measurements
H 305 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 366 x W 274 x D 274 cm
Accession number
G51_GB_S012
Acquisition method
purchased with public subscription
Work type
Statue
Owner
Glasgow City Council
Custodian
Glasgow City Council
Work status
extant
Listing status
B (Scotland)
Unveiling date
28th July 1888
Access
at all times
Inscription description
on the front face of the pedestal: JOHN ELDER / ENGINEER AND SHIPBUILDER / BORN AT GLASGOW 8 MARCH 1824 / DIED 17 SEPTEMBER 1869.; on the left face: TO COMMEMORATE / THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HIS GENIUS / AND / IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS SERVICES / TO THE COMMUNITY AMONG WHOM HE LIVED / THIS STATUE / WAS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION / MAY 1888.; on the rear face: BY HIS MANY INVENTIONS, PARTICULARLY / IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPOUND / ENGINE, HE EFFECTED A REVOLUTION / IN ENGINEERING SECOND ONLY TO THAT / ACCOMPLISHED BY JAMES WATT, AND / IN GREAT MEASURE ORIGINATED THE / DEVELOPMENTS IN STEAM PROPULSION / WHICH HAVE CREATED MODERN COMMERCE.; on the right face: HIS UNWEARIED EFFORTS TO PROMOTE / THE WELFARE OF THE WORKING CLASSES, / HIS INTEGRITY OF CHARACTER, FIRMNESS / OF PURPOSE, AND KINDNESS OF HEART, / CLAIM, / EQUALLY WITH HIS GENIUS, / ENDURING REMEMBRANCE.