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Memorial: M4403

Monument in St Margaret’s Church, Topsham, Devon commemorating Admiral John Duckworth, RN, d. 1817

Location

St Margaret's Church, Topsham, Devon, England

Transcript

'TO THE MEMORY OF / SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH BARONET / KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST / HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH / ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE SQUADRON OF / HIS MAJESTY'S FLEET / WHO DIED IN THE CHIEF COMMAND OF / HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AT PLYMOUTH / ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST 1817 AGED 69 YEARS / HIS PRIVATE LIFE WAS MARKED BY BENEVOLENCE / TOO EXTENSIVE AND TOO EFFECTUAL / TO BE FORGOTTEN / TO HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE HE WAS DEVOTED FROM / HIS EARLIEST YOUTH WITH A ZEAL THAT ONLY DEATH / SUBDUED; AND HIS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE RECORDED / IN THE ANNALS OF HIS COUNTRY'S GLORY' [Below relief] 'THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY SUSANNA CATHERINE / RELICT OF ADMIRAL SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH BART G.C.B. / AND DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM BULLER DD LORD BISHOP OF EXETER BORN 4TH NOVEMBER 1769 DIED 27 APRIL 1840'

Details

Description: Relief of ships in action, below inscription tablet. Inscription flanked by scrolls and anthemion devices and surmounted by a draped bust of Duckworth. Behind the bust are a sword, and a scroll giving an account of his victories. Family arms on left side of monument, trident piercing laurel wreath on right.
Type: Wall monument
Position: South transept, east Wall
Materials: White marble
Date Erected: 1817
Artists: Francis Legatt Chantrey

People

Duckworth, John Thomas
Age: 69
Date of Death: 31/8/1817
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Admiral of the White
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Bust ordered by Sir John Duckworth in 1810 for £21 (year appointed Governor and Commander in chief Newfoundland). Plaster version exhibited at RA in 1811 also plaster model at the Ashmolean. Dec 6 1812. Sir John Duckworth ordered at memorial for his son Lt Col Duckworth killed at Albuera in 1811. 1818 this memorial ordered from Chantrey by Lady Duckworth £680-00. Battle scene tentatively identified by Margaret Whinney as San Domingo.

Bibliography: Alison Yarrington, Ilene D. Lieberman, Alex Potts and Malcolm Baker. 'An Edition of the Ledger of Sir Francis Chantrey R.A...', 'The Fifty Sixth Volume of the Walpole Society' p. 39, 96-7 (1991-1992).

Recorder: B. Tomlinson
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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