Civil Rights: Wendell Phillips Monument - Boston, MA

Wendell Phillips Monument

Boston, MA

N 42° 21.155 W 071° 04.110

Short Description:

A monument honoring abolitionist Wendell Phillips is located along  Boylston Street in the Boston Public Garden,  Boston, MA

Long Description:

An 8' by 2.75' wide  by 4' bronze sculpture of Boston orator and abolitionist Wendell Phillips  stands on a pink granite rectangular base and in front of a 12' high wall. The standing figure of Wendell Phillips pounding his right fist on top of a podium and holding a short length of chain in his proper The sculpture rests on a square base in front of a tall stone wall.The sculpture was created by Daniel Chester French and cast at the Jno. Williams, Inc. foundry in 1914. The architect was Henry Bacon and the contractor was the Presbrey-LeLand Company. The monument was dedicated on Dedicated July 4, 1915.


The front of the base is inscribed:

WENDELL PHILLIPS

1811-1884

PROPHET OF LIBERTY

CHAMPION OF THE SLAVE 

On front of wall behind the sculpture is inscribed:

WHETHER IN CHAINS OR IN LAURELS

LIBERTY KNOWS NOTHING BUT VICTORIES 

On the back of the wall is inscribed:

I LOVE INEXPRESSIBLY

THESE STREETS OF BOSTON

OVER WHOSE PAVEMENTS BY MOTHER HELD UP TENDERLY MY BABY FET

AN IF GOD GRANTS ME TIME ENOUGH

Wendell Phillips was born November 29, 1811 in Boston, MA. He was the son of Boston's first mayor, John Phillips. He became an ardent supporter of William Lloyd Garrison's and the campaign against slavery. A skilled orator, his passionate and reasoned arguments made him a leading voice against slavery.  He continued is work to advance the cause of civil rights for women and  native Americans after the Civil War. He died on February 2, 1884 and is buried in the Granary Burying Ground in Boston.