Sculptor. He was recognized as an early 19th century English sculptor and instructor of other noted sculptors. He created in 1832 a life-size statue of Sir Stamford Raffles seated, which is located in the north choir aisle of Westminister Abbey in London. By 1844 he created busts of both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Born in a rural area, he was intended to become a farmer but traveled to London, becoming a student of noted sculptors Samuel Joseph and Francis Leggatt Chantrey. In 1820 he exhibited at the Royal Academy with a bust of Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, which followed with a bust of Captain Sir W. Bolton and Horatia Nelson, the daughter of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Around 1830 he secured the patronage of the Duke of Sussex and probably through this connection became a favorite portrait sculptor to members of the Whig party. His busts of John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, dating 1848, and Duke of Wellington, dating 1852, are on exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. He created several posthumous busts of well-known Englishmen. He was the father of prolific sculptor Mary Thornycroft and the instructor of Matthew Noble, Joseph Durham, and his future son-in-law, Thomas Thornycroft. He married Mary Nelson and the couple had four children. He exhibited at the Summer Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts 31 times starting in 1851 and at the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in 1851.
Sculptor. He was recognized as an early 19th century English sculptor and instructor of other noted sculptors. He created in 1832 a life-size statue of Sir Stamford Raffles seated, which is located in the north choir aisle of Westminister Abbey in London. By 1844 he created busts of both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Born in a rural area, he was intended to become a farmer but traveled to London, becoming a student of noted sculptors Samuel Joseph and Francis Leggatt Chantrey. In 1820 he exhibited at the Royal Academy with a bust of Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, which followed with a bust of Captain Sir W. Bolton and Horatia Nelson, the daughter of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Around 1830 he secured the patronage of the Duke of Sussex and probably through this connection became a favorite portrait sculptor to members of the Whig party. His busts of John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, dating 1848, and Duke of Wellington, dating 1852, are on exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. He created several posthumous busts of well-known Englishmen. He was the father of prolific sculptor Mary Thornycroft and the instructor of Matthew Noble, Joseph Durham, and his future son-in-law, Thomas Thornycroft. He married Mary Nelson and the couple had four children. He exhibited at the Summer Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts 31 times starting in 1851 and at the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in 1851.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Francis memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
