Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)
Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)

Image credit: Tracy Jenkins / Art UK

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A bronze standing figure of the Arctic explorer, set on a granite pedestal with bronze panels. The statue shows Franklin in the act of announcing the discovery of the Northwest Passage to his officers and crew. He wears a loose overcoat of fur over the full uniform of a naval commander. In his hands are a telescope, chart, and compasses, and behind him are an anchor and a block of ice. Around the cornice of the pedestal runs a bronze cable motif. At the front of the pedestal, a relief shows Captain Crozier, Franklin’s second-in-command, reading the burial service as he commits his commander’s coffin to the ice amongst the assembled crews. On the back of the pedestal is an embossed chart of the Arctic regions, showing the positions of the boats and crews at the moment of Franklin’s burial.

Title

Sir John Franklin (1786–1847)

Date

1866

Medium

bronze & Aberdeen granite

Measurements

H 250 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 315 x W (?) x D (?) cm

Accession number

SW1Y_TJ_S022

Acquisition method

commissioned

Work type

Statue

Custodian

English Heritage

Work status

extant

Listing status

Grade II (England and Wales)

Unveiling date

15th November 1866

Listing date

05/02/70

Access

at all times

Signature/marks description

stamped: M Noble 1866 sculpt.; on left: robinson & cottam / founders

Inscription description

front of plinth: TO THE GREAT ARCTIC NAVIGATOR / AND HIS BRAVE COMPANIONS / WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN COMPLETING / THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH WEST PASSAGE / A.D. 1847 - 8 / ERECTED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF PARLIAMENT; side panel, left: a list of names of lost souls (15 Officers, 22 Petty Officers, 20 Able Seamen, 6 Marines and 2 boys) / HER MAJESTY'S SHIP TERROR / THEY FORGED THE LAST LINK WITH THEIR LIVES; side panel, right: includes a list of names of lost souls (14 Officers, 21 Petty Officers, 20 Able Seamen, 6 Marines and 2 boys) / HER MAJESTY'S SHIP EREBUS / THEY FORGED THE LAST LINK WITH THEIR LIVES.

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Located at

Waterloo Place,

SW1Y 5ER

Set on the west side of Waterloo Place, against the railings of Waterloo Gardens.