Nathaniel Prentiss Banks - Waltham, MA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

In Waltham, on the Waltham Common, is this statue for Nathaniel P. Banks, former General during the U.S. Civil War, and Speaker of the House.

The common is bounded by Main Street, Moody Street, Elm Street and Central Street. The statue is visible from Moody Street and is located in an open area.

The bronze statue is situated on a stone base, surrounded by bushes and an iron fence. The statue figure is looking west over Moody Street. He is standing and has his hand in his coat while his other hand is grasping on papers and resting on the arm of a chair represented in the stone.

From the inventory web page:

Size: Sculpture: approx. H. 10 ft. x W. 3 ft.; Base: approx. 3 x 5 x 4 ft.

(On front of base:) NATHANIEL P. BANKS/STATESMAN/SOLDIER/MDCCCXVI/MDCCCXCIV

(On left side of base:) COMMISSIONED.MAJOR/GENERAL.OF.VOLUN/TEERS.MDCCLXI/COMMAND.OF.FIFTH /CORPS.ARMY.OF.THE/POTOMAC

Additionally:
(On the right side of base:) SPEAKER MASSACHUSETTS/HOUSE OF REPRESENT/ATIVES MDCCCLE LII/ELECTED TO/UNITED STATES HOUSE/OF REPRESENTATIVES/MDCCCLIII/SPEAKER OF NATIONAL/HOUSE MDCCCLV LVII

GOVERNOR OF MASSA/CHUSETTS MDCCCLVIII/TO MDCCCLX/MEMBER OF CONGRESS/MDCCCLXV TO/MDCCCLXXVII AND IN/ MDCCCLXXXVIII/

He was born on January 30, 1816 and died September 1, 1894. He grew up in Waltham He joined the new Republican Party and was elected a U.S. Representativ8-1861e in Congress and rose to Speaker of the House in 1856 and 1857. He was also Governor of Massachusetts from 1858 to 1861.

When the Civil War began, Abraham appointed him a major general of Massachusetts Volunteers. He was resented by other men who graduated from West Point; however, his political advantage helped bring in recruits and money needed to build the Union Army. His strength was not as a leader into battle. He was on several campaigns and lost just about every confrontation. However, when in Louisiana, he was instrumental in rewriting the state constitution and overseeing the elections. He returned to Waltham after retiring from the army and is buried in Waltham.

TITLE: Nathaniel Prentiss Banks ARTIST(S): Kitson, Henry Hudson DATE: 9/16/1908 MEDIUM: Bronze, Hallowell Granite CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 87740281 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: On the west side of Waltham Common, visible from Moody Street. DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: Additionally: (On the right side of base:) SPEAKER MASSACHUSETTS/HOUSE OF REPRESENT/ATIVES MDCCCLE LII/ELECTED TO/UNITED STATES HOUSE/OF REPRESENTATIVES/MDCCCLIII/SPEAKER OF NATIONAL/HOUSE MDCCCLV LVII GOVERNOR OF MASSA/CHUSETTS MDCCCLVIII/TO MDCCCLX/MEMBER OF CONGRESS/MDCCCLXV TO/MDCCCLXXVII AND IN/ MDCCCLXXXVIII/

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