McGrigor Obelisk
Architect
Alexander Ellis
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1830 - 1917)
AssociatedAssociated with
Sir James McGrigor
(Cromdale, Moray, Scotland, 1771 - 1858)
Date1860
Object NameObelisk
MediumPink Peterhead Granite
ClassificationsSculptures
Dimensions2194.56cm
AcquisitionOwned by Aberdeen City Council under the curatorial care of Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.
CopyrightOut of copyright
Object numberABDCC001080
Keywords
The Obelisk was built to honour the memory of Sir James, who was Director-General of the Army medical department for 36 years and Lord Rector of Marischal College.
Re-framing the Collection
James McGrigor, has two connections to chattel slavery. First, he was appointed Surgeon-General for the Duke of Wellington’s army during the Peninsular Wars. The Duke of Wellington was known for his pro-slavery views, frustrating the abolitionist movement at the time.
The second more tangible link is the fact that McGrigor was ordered to form part of a force sent against the island of Grenada during Fedon’s Rebellion (a significant uprising involving a number of enslaved people fighting against British rule in Grenada).
James Pittendrigh Macgillivray
1819
1805
1818
1814
1801
1781
Ellis R. Milne
Ellis R. Milne