James McGill - Montreal, QC, Canada
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 45° 30.254 W 073° 34.524
18T E 611290 N 5039953
A statue of James McGill is located on the campus lawn of McGill University in Montreal, QC, Canada.
Waymark Code: WMMBJ2
Location: Québec, Canada
Date Posted: 08/27/2014
Views: 23
James McGill was born on October 6, 1744 in Glasgow, Scotland. After graduating from the University of Glasgow he migrated to North America and became a fur trader. In 1792, he served in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Montreal West and was appointed to the Executive Council of Lower Canada in 1793. He was also the first honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the The Canadian Grenadier Guards.
Upon his death on December 19, 1813 James McGill bequeathed £10,000 and his summer home to the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning. These funds were used to create McGill University.
A 5.5' high bronze statue of James McGill is located on the grounds of McGill University. James McGill is wearing a long tailed coat, which is blown back by the wind, a vest, an ascot around his neck, boots, and large two-cornered hat. He is holding a walking staff in his right hand and is apparently walking briskly with his left hand holding his hat and his left foot in front of his right.
The sculpture was created by David Roper-Curzon and cast at the Atelier du Bronze foundry. It was dedicated June 6, 1996. The statue stands on two stone slabs. The front slab contains a bronze plaque which is inscribed:
FUR TRADER, MERCHANT, MAGISTRATE
COLONEL OF THE MILIIA, DEFENDER OF MONTREAL
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR OF LOWER CANADA
CITIZEN OF MONTREAL AND FOUNDER OF McGILL UNIVERITY
JAMES McGILL
1744-1813
NEGOCIANT EN FOURRURES, MARCHAND, MAGISTRAT
COLONEL DE LA MILICE, DEFENSEUR DE MONTREAL
MEMBRE DE LA CHAMBRE D'ASSEMBLEE ET DU CONSEIL EXECUTIVE DU BAS-CANADA
CITOYEN DE MONTREAL ET FONDATEUR DE L'UNIVERSITY McGILL