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Edinburgh, East Princes Street Gardens, Professor John Wilson Statue
Statue (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, East Princes Street Gardens, Professor John Wilson Statue
Classification Statue (19th Century)
Canmore ID 116835
Site Number NT27SE 844
NGR NT 25447 73865
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/116835
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Project (1997)
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
Field Visit (15 June 2000)
Standing figure of Wilson holding his cloak around him with his right hand in which he also holds a quill, and leaning on a palm tree stump with his left hand. Holding folded papers in his left hand. On pedestal with integral colums with foliate capitals at each corner (of two designs).
The pedestal is the same as the pedestal on the Allan Ramsay monument. Both were designed by David Bryce
John Wilson, born 1785 near Paisley. Appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University in 1819. Died in Edinburgh 1854. Buried in the Dean Cemetery. Wilson made his name writing for Blackwood's Magazine under the pseudonym of Christopher North.
Inscriptions : On north side of pedestal:
JOHN WILSON
BORN 18TH MAY 1785
DIED 1ST APRIL 1854
Signatures : On base of plant on which Wilson leans:
JN STEELL . R.S.A.
Sculpt Edinr
1865
Design period : 1856 - 1865
Year of unveiling : 1865
Unveiling details : 25 March 1865
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0172)
