Statue of Thomas Guy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Thomas Guy |
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The statue in 2020
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| Artist | Peter Scheemakers |
| Completion date | c. 1732 |
| Subject | Thomas Guy |
| Location | London, England |
| Owner | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust |
A statue of Thomas Guy stands outside Guy's Hospital in Southwark, a part of London. This statue is considered an important historical object.
Thomas Guy had a connection to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Because of this, some people have questioned whether the statue should remain.
Who Was Thomas Guy?
Thomas Guy was a British politician, businessman, and bookseller. He owned shares in a company called the South Sea Company. This company was involved in the very sad and unfair business of selling enslaved people. Because of this, Thomas Guy is seen as a controversial figure today.
The Statue's Story
The statue is made of bronze. It was created by an artist named Peter Scheemakers between 1731 and 1734.
In June 2020, there were many protests in the United Kingdom. These protests followed the killing of George Floyd in the United States. During this time, many statues that were seen as controversial came under close public attention.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, started a group to look at statues and monuments in the city. The people who manage Guy's Hospital said they would work with the Mayor on this issue. On June 12, the statue was covered up. It remained covered for some time after that.
