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Memorial: M1006

Monument in St Paul’s Cathedral, London commemorating Captain Richard Rundle Burges RN d. 1797

Location

St Paul's Cathedral, London, England

Transcript

'SACRED TO THE MEMORY / OF / RICHARD RUNDLE BURGES ESQUIRE / COMMANDING HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP THE ARDENT / WHO FELL IN THE XLIIID YEAR OF HIS AGE / WHILE BRAVELY SUPPORTING THE HONOUR / OF THE BRITISH FLAG / IN A DARING AND SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE ENEMY'S LINE / NEAR / CAMPERDOWN / ON THE ELEVENTH OF OCTOBER / MDCCXCVII / HIS SKILL COOLNESS AND INTREPIDITY EMINENTLY CONTRIBUTED / TO A VICTORY / EQUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS AND GLORIOUS TO HIS COUNTRY / THAT GRATEFUL COUNTRY / BY THE UNANIMOUS ACT OF HER LEGISLATURE / ENROLLS HIS NAME / HIGH IN THE LIST OF THOSE HEROES / WHO UNDER THE BLESSING OF PROVIDENCE / HAVE ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED HER NAVAL SUPERIORITY / AND HER EXALTED RANK AMONG NATIONS'

Details

Description: Burges, clad only in a brief chlamys receives a sword from Victory, a cannon between the two figures. Reliefs based on Trajan's column are carved on the base, with a warship hull (with modern gunports) and anchor in the centre. A figure which brought the 'blush of shame to the cheek of modesty', according to contemporary critics. 'Perhaps his least admirable production full of classic memories unhappily and unharmoniously applied' K.A. Esdaile (MS V & A.)
Type: Free standing monument
Position: South side nave
Materials: Marble
Date Erected: 1802
Artists: Thomas Banks
Vessel: HMS Ardent

Event

Battle of Camperdown

Event Date

1797

Event Category

1793-1802 French Revolutionary War

People

Burges, Richard Rundle
Age: 43
Date of Death: 11/10/1797
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Drawing in PRO. Date of contract 20/12/1798, value £5, 250. Malcolm 'Londii Dediv' III p.124. 'Gentleman's Magazine' 1803 II p. 614. Janson suggests the addition of the canon, rope, chain and cannon balls concessions to the committee who commissioned the monument. PRO WORK6 362/6 Removal of the tomb of Capt R.R. Burges RN from the Nave to the Crypt.
Bibliography: K.A. Esdaile 'English Church Monuments' (London, 1946); H.W. Janson 'Nineteenth-century Sculpture' (London, 1985) pp. 21-22.
Recorder: William Donnan, 1972
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