Statue of Historic Figure: Sir Walter Scott - Central Park, NY, NY

Sir Walter Scott

Central Park

NY, NY

N 40° 46.210 W 073° 58.344

Short Description:

 A monument honoring Scottish poet, playwright, and novelist Sir Walter Scott is located behind a 3' high iron fence on the south end of The Mall, known as Literary Walk, in Central Park, New York City.

Long Description:

A 9' by 5.5' by 7' bronze statue of Scottish poet, playwright, and novelist Sir Walter Scott is set on an 8' by 13.5' by 15.5' granite base. Scott is depicted seated on a rock. Scott is seated on a rock. Scott is wearing a jacket and is wrapped in a long cape that reaches his ankles. He is holding a book and a pen with both hands. The book is resting on his left leg. His dog is sitting to his right side.

The statue was created by Sir John Steell and dedicated in Central park on November 2, 1872. The front of the base is inscribed WALTER SCOTT.

Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on August 15, 1771. He studied law at Edinburgh University. At age 25, while practicing law, he began writing poetry. He achieved recognition as a poet with the publication of the poem, "The Lay of the Minstrel", in 1805. One of his most popular poems "Lady of the Lake" was published in 1810.

Sir Walter Scott is considered to be the creator of the modern historical novel. He wrote the tale of the 1745 Jacobite rising in the Waverley Novels, which was first published anonymously in 1814. His most famous novels include Rob Roy (1817) and Ivanhoe (1820). Scott was also a playwright - MacDuff's Cross (1823) and non-fiction writer The Journal of Sir Walter Scott (1825–1832).

Sir Walter Scott died of typhus on September 21, 1832 and is interred in Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland.