Fonds GB 0210 MSGOSCOMBE - W. Goscombe John Manuscripts

Sir William Goscombe John (1860-1952), sculptor and medallist, was born in Cardiff on 21 February 1860. He attended Llandaff National School and Cardiff Art School, 1871-1881, the City and Guilds Kennington School of Art, 1881-1884, and the Royal Academy Schools from 1884. In 1888-1890 he travelled in Europe and North Africa, funded by friends in Cardiff and the Royal Academy's 1889 gold medal. He spent 1890-1891 in Paris and studied under Rodin. He then settled in London, living in St John's Wood from 1892 until his death. Among his works are statues of the 7th Duke of Devonshire in Eastbourne (1901), Edward VII in Cape Town (1904), Viscount Tredegar in Cardiff (1909) and the 4th Earl of Minto in Calcutta (1913), a monument to the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury in Hatfield (1912), the King's Regiment memorial (1905) and Engine-Room Heroes memorial (1916), both in Liverpool, and the statue of St David in Cardiff City Hall (1916). He also designed the Hirlas Horn for the National Eisteddfod (1898), the regalia for the investiture of the Prince of Wales (1911) and the great seal of Edward VIII (1936). W. Goscombe John was made a Royal Academician in 1909 and was knighted in 1911; he became an honorary freeman of Cardiff in 1936. In 1890 he married Anna Marthe Weiss (d. 1923) and they had one daughter, Muriel (1892-1955), who married the son of Sir Luke Fildes. Sir W. Goscombe John died in London on 15 December 1952 at the age of 92.