Statue of Charles James Fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Charles James Fox |
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| Artist | Richard Westmacott |
| Completion date | 1814 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Charles James Fox |
| Location | Bloomsbury, London |
| 51°31′09″N 0°07′24″W / 51.5193°N 0.1232°W | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Statue of Charles James Fox at North End of Garden |
| Designated | 24 October 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1244458 |
The statue of Charles James Fox stands at the north end of Bloomsbury Square in the London borough of Camden. It was put up in 1816. The artist who made it was Richard Westmacott. This statue honors Charles James Fox, an important British politician who passed away in 1806. Fox is shown dressed like a Roman senator. This statue is a very important historical structure, known as a Grade II* listed structure.
Who Was Charles James Fox?
Charles James Fox (born January 24, 1749 – died September 13, 1806) had a political career that lasted almost 40 years. He was a Whig politician. Even though he rarely held top government jobs, he strongly supported many liberal ideas.
He spoke up for American independence. He also supported the French Revolution. Fox was a champion for Catholic Emancipation, which meant giving more rights to Catholics. A very important cause he fought for was the abolition of slavery.
Why Was This Statue Built?
Charles James Fox had many friends and admirers. They were very sad when he died. To honor him, they raised a lot of money, about £12,450. This was enough to create two memorials for him.
One memorial is a statue in Westminster Abbey. The other is the statue in Bloomsbury Square. The land for the Bloomsbury Square statue was given by John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. He was the son of Fox's good friend, the 5th Duke. Richard Westmacott was the sculptor. He finished the statue in 1814, and it was put up in 1816.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue is made of bronze. It shows Charles James Fox wearing the long robes of a Roman senator. He is shown seated in a chair. His friends thought this pose looked more dignified for him.
The statue stands on a base made of granite. This base is called a plinth. Carved into the plinth are Fox's full name and the year the statue was put up. The statue in Westminster Abbey has an even shorter inscription: "C. J. Fox." This is because his colleagues could not agree on his most important achievements. The plinth itself sits on a base with four steps.
The statue was first recognized as a Grade II listed structure in 1951. This means it is an important historical building. It was upgraded to a Grade II* listing on August 23, 2008. This date is UNESCO's International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Even though the statue does not directly mention it, this upgrade highlights Fox's important work to end slavery.
