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Title
Sir William Pearce (1833–1888)
Medium
bronze on Peterhead granite pedestal
Measurements
H 297 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 373 x W 244 x D 244 cm
Accession number
G51_GB_S009
Acquisition method
purchased with public subscription
Work type
Statue
Owner
Glasgow City Council
Custodian
Glasgow City Council
Work status
extant
Listing status
B (Scotland)
Unveiling date
6th October 1894
Access
at all times
Inscription description
on the front face of the pedestal: SIR WILLIAM PEARCE / BART, MP / DIED / 18TH DECEMBER 1888 / AGED 55 YEARS; on the right face: AS A SHIPBUILDER AND ENGINEER / HIS ORIGINALITY OF THOUGHT AND / MARVELLOUS SKILL IN EXECUTION / CONTRIBUTED LARGELY TO THE / DEVELOPMENT OF THE NAVY / AND MERCANTILE MARINE. / IN TOKEN OF HIS EMINENCE / IN HIS PROFESSION HE WAS / CREATED A BARONET IN 1887 / HIS EXTENSIVE AND / ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE LED TO / HIS APPOINTMENT TO SERVE ON / THE ROYAL COMMISSIONS ON / TONNAGE, LOSS OF LIFE AT SEA / AND DEPRESSION OF TRADE. / HIS CAREER FURNISHED A / STRIKING EXAMPLE OF WHAT / GENIUS COMBINED WITH ENERGY, / INDUSTRY AND INDOMITABLE / COURAGE, MAY ACCOMPLISH, EVEN / IN A SHORT BUSINESS LIFETIME.; on the rear face: ERECTED / BY / PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION, / IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION / OF HIS NUMEROUS NOBLE / QUALITIES AS A MAN AND / EMPLOYER OF LABOUR. / 1894; on the left face: FOR A TIME HE SERVED AS / A COMMISSIONER OF POLICE / OF THE BURGH OF GOVAN. / HE WAS ALSO HONORARY / COLONEL OF THE SECOND / VOLUNTEER BATTALION / HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY; / PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER / OF GLASGOW; / A COMMISSIONER OF SUPPLY, / JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, / AND DEPUTY LIEUTENANT / OF THE COUNTY OF LANARK. / WHEN GOVAN WAS MADE / A PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION / IN 1885 HE WAS RETURNED AS / ITS FIRST REPRESENTATIVE, / AND WAS RE-ELECTED IN 1886