Statue of George II, Greenwich

George II
ArtistJohn Michael Rysbrack
Completion date1735
SubjectGeorge II
LocationLondon
Coordinates51°29′01″N 0°00′21″W / 51.4837°N 0.0059°W / 51.4837; -0.0059
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameRoyal Naval College Statue of George II in Centre of Grand Square
Designated8 June 1973
Reference no.1211382

The statue of George II is a marble statue that stands in the centre of an open square within the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The statue was Grade II listed in June 1973.[1]

The marble used to make the statue had been captured from a French ship by George Rooke. It was intended to be used for a statue of Louis XIV before falling into British hands. Greenwich Hospital then acquired the marble in 1714 for the purpose of erecting a statue of William and Mary. Plans changed and a statue of George II was erected by John Jennings in 1735, probably in an attempt to attract the King as a patron for the hospital.[2]

The statue was designed by John Michael Rysbrack and shows the King in Roman attire. George's face is heavily weathered.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Royal Naval College Statue of George II in Centre of Grand Square, Non Civil Parish – 1211382 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  2. ^ Blackwood, John (1989). London's immortals: the complete outdoor commemorative statues. London: Savoy Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-9514296-0-0.
  3. ^ Baker, Margaret (2002). Discovering London statues and monuments. Discovering series (5. ed., revised and updated ed.). Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-7478-0495-6.
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