Impressive statue of King William in the uniform of the Lord High Admiral, standing, hatless, wearing full length cloak, and sash and star of the Order of the Garter, and the Garter. Left leg forward, holding a scroll in right hand. His left hand at his side is resting on his sword. He is dressed in the dress of his day with a cut-away coat with upstanding collar and three buttons visible, and a belt over it. He has a cravat. The statue stands on a circular disc of the same stone set on a tall square pedestal tapering upwards made from eight horizontal sections. A photograph of the time shows work in progress on re-erecting the statue. Workmen from Askham and Palin, Bridge and Steelwork Erectors of Fulham, SW6, are shown with the statue on a brick plinth. This must be the new plinth, later clad with stone. According to the notice by the railings round the garden,on the King William Walk side, the statue is of Scottish granite. Byron gives the height as 15 foot five inches (470cm).
Commissioned by the Corporation of the City of London at a cost of £2,200. 20 ton statue of King in uniform of Lord High Admiral, begun in 1841, four years after King's death. Carved in new 'naturalistic' style (i.e. unidealised) then becoming fashionable. London's first statue to be carved in granite, extremely difficult to work, to the detriment of Nixon's health and finances as the fee did not cover his expenses. Initially installed on a new traffic island on a circular 25 foot pedestal of Haytor Granite designed by Richard Kelsey, viewable by travellers over London Bridge. Unveiled 18/19 December 1844. Said to occupy site of Boar's Head Tavern visited by Falstaff and Prince Hal in 'Henry IV'. In 1933, as horses gave way to motor transport, a pedestrian subway was to be built which meant that the heavy statue had to be moved. It was taken to the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich in 1935. The following year it was placed on a new square pedestal 16 feet 6 inches tall in a new garden laid out for the purpose, on the site of St Mary's Church which was demolished in 1936. The church's position is now marked by stones in the garden around the statue.
William IV was born in 1765, the third son of George III. Known as the 'Sailor King' he entered the navy in 1779, aged 14. He assumed his first command at 20, in 1785, when he was posted to the West Indies (largely to separate him from the daughter of the Royal Commissioner of Portsmouth, to whom he had proposed). Was friendly with the young Nelson for whom he was best man. 1790 saw the end of active service and the following year he became Ranger of Bushy Park near Richmond. Although the actress Dorothy Jordan bore him ten children a crisis over the royal succession led to a marriage with Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen in 1818. Made Lord High Admiral in 1827, but after not being able to take operational command of the Channel fleet he resigned and the post became one of ceremony only. He never returned to sea but his last public engagement was a lecture on Naval warfare. His reign saw several reforms including the passing of the first Reform Bill, abolition of slavery in the colonies and reform of the Poor Laws. Succeeded to throne in 1830 on death of his brother George IV. Died 1837.
Inscriptions
On front of pedestal, west face, deeply incised letters:
WILLIAM IV
BORN 1765
DIED 1837
On bronze plaque laid on top step at base of pedestal to front of statue:
THIS STATUE STOOD FORMERLY IN KING
WILLIAM STREET IN THE CITY OF LONDON
WHERE IT WAS SET UP IN 1845.
IT WAS REMOVED TO THIS SITE AND
PRESENTED TO H. M. OFFICE OF WORKS
BY THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY
OF LONDON IN 1936