Biography of John "The Elder" Bacon 1740-1799
Southwark, Surrey
Saint Leodegarius Church, Ashby St Ledgers
Soho Square
Coade's Artificial Stone Works
St Bartholemew's Church, Tong
St Mary's Church, Rostherne
St Peter and St Paul Church, Belton
St Andrew's Church, Wimpole
St Leonard's Church Wollaton, Nottinghamshire
Whitfield Chapel, Tottenham Court Road
John "The Elder" Bacon 1740-1799 is in Sculptors.
On 24 Nov 1740 John "The Elder" Bacon was born to Thomas Bacon in Southwark, Surrey [Map].
On 21 Sep 1761 John Bentley Ashley (age 59) died. Monument to John Bentley Ashley (age 59) in Saint Leodegarius Church, Ashby St Ledgers [Map]. Sculpted by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 20). Standing wall monument with two large allegorical figures flanking the inscription. Above them is a Sarcophagus on which is a Roman lamp on front of a black Obelisk. Also to James Ashley -1798. Simple Wall Monument with Urn and Obelisk. Also to Jane Pocock (age 51) and by whose will the. Monument was erected.
John Bentley Ashley: he and Jane Pocock were married. Around 1702 he was born to Joseph Ashley of Great Broughton.
Jane Pocock: In 1710 she was born. On 13 Jun 1784 she died.
Around 1763 John "The Elder" Bacon (age 22) attempted his first work in marble when he resided in George Yard on Oxford Road near Soho Square [Map].
On 02 Mar 1767 John "The Elder" Bacon (age 26) and Elizabeth Wade (age 27) were married at St Saviour's Church, Southwark. They had three sons, one of which died in infancy, and three daughters.
In 1769 John "The Elder" Bacon (age 28) was working at Coade's Artificial Stone Works [Map]. In 1771, Ms Coade appointed John "The Elder" Bacon (age 28) works supervisor at her manufactory [Map]: he directed both model-making and design there until his death.
In 1774 John "The Elder" Bacon (age 33) was gifted 17 Newman Street, Marylebone by a builder named Johson who much admired his work.
In 1777 [his son] John "The Younger" Bacon was born to John "The Elder" Bacon (age 36) and [his wife] Elizabeth Wade (age 37) at 17 Newman Street, Marylebone.
After 1780. St Bartholemew's Church, Tong [Map]. The Durant Monument to George Durant of Tong Castle (age 46) and others. The monument has been attributed to John "The Elder" Bacon (age 39), Francis Leggatt Chantrey and Richard Westmacott (age 4).
George Durant of Tong Castle: Around 1734 he was born. Before 25 Apr 1776 he and Maria Beaufoy were married. On 04 Aug 1780 he died. He was buried at St Bartholemew's Church, Tong.
On 19 Feb 1780 Samuel Egerton (deceased) was buried at St Mary's Church, Rostherne [Map]. Sculpted by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 39). Figures representing Hope and Patience
The monument inscription describes those also buried in the vault: John Egerton, his wife Elizabeth Barbour buried 10 Feb 1743, her mother Elizabeth Hill (age 55) buried 17 Apr 1713 and John and Elizabeth's daughter-in-law Beatrix Copley (age 34) buried 01 May 1755.
On 01 Feb 1782 [his wife] Elizabeth Wade (age 42) died.
In Oct 1782 John "The Elder" Bacon (age 41) and Marthe Holland (age 26) were married at Marylebone Church. They had five sons and one daughter.
On 07 Dec 1788 Anne Cust (age 17) died. Monument in St Peter and St Paul Church, Belton [Map]. Sculpted by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 48) in 1793.
Anne Cust: In 1771 she was born to Brownlow Cust 1st Baron Brownlow and Jocosa Drury Lady Cust.
On 02 Dec 1792 Joseph Yorke 1st Baron Dover (age 68) died without issue. Baron Dover extinct. He was buried at St Andrew's Church, Wimpole [Map].
Inscription panel surmounted by a sarcophagus with flanking trophies and small medallions of arms in the apron; signed 'J. Bacon Sculptor (age 52): London 1798'
On 22 Aug 1793 John Thomas (age 81) died. He has a memorial in the South Aisle of the Nave of Westminster Abbey. A grey and white marble with a bust and relief of the Holy Lamb, with a mitre and crozier behind. On either side are a chalice and paten and other emblems of the Eucharist made by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 52). The inscription reads .... Sacred to the memory of the Right Reverend John THOMAS, Doctor of Laws, Bishop of Rochester, Dean of this Collegiate Church, and of the most honourable Order of the Bath. Having passed a well spent boyhood at Carlisle School, he gathered the riper fruits of learning at Oxford, whence, by reason of his intellect, his character, his humane and profound scholarship, he emerged as an ornament to the legal profession. His fame thereafter growing and duly spreading abroad, he adorned his offices by his worthiness, increased his riches by his bounty, governed this church with his wisdom, protected it by his authority, and instructed it by his example. Unweared in his labours, indefatigable in his studies, his constant principle was edification: until, having virtuously fulfilled all life obligations, and for long sore pressed by a cruel disease, which was borne however with indomitable patience, he resigned his soul to God on 20th August 1793 in his 81st year. It fell to the lot of his relative, G.A.T., A.M. [Master of Arts] to offer this vain tribute, this token of sorrow, mean though it be.
Before 1799 Joseph Theakston (age 27) was a pupil of John "The Elder" Bacon (age 58). He also studied under John Flaxman (age 43).
Before 04 Aug 1799. Monument to Francis Willoughby 3rd Baron Middleton, Thomas Willoughby 4th Baron Middleton, Henry Willoughby 5th Baron Middleton (age 72) and Dorothy Cartright Baroness Middleton in St Leonard's Church Wollaton, Nottinghamshire [Map] sculpted by John "The Elder" Bacon (age 58). The names of Henry Willoughby 5th Baron Middleton (age 72) and Dorothy Cartright Baroness Middleton were either added later, or the monument completed by the workshop of John "The Elder" Bacon (age 58) after his death on 04 Aug 1799.
Dorothy Cartright Baroness Middleton:
In 1756 Henry Willoughby 5th Baron Middleton and she were married.
On 02 Nov 1781 Thomas Willoughby 4th Baron Middleton died. His first cousin Henry Willoughby 5th Baron Middleton succeeded 5th Baron Middleton, 6th Baronet Willoughby of Wollaton. She by marriage Baroness Middleton.
On 18 Sep 1808 she died.
On 07 Aug 1799 John "The Elder" Bacon (age 58) died from inflammation of the bowels at his house in 17 Newman Street, Marylebone. His son [his son] John "The Younger" Bacon (age 22) inherited his workshop and business, and completed his father's unfinished commissions: the statue of William Jones in St Paul’s Cathedral, William Mason in Westminster Abbey, and a relief for East India House.
Cansisk's Monumental Inscriptions Volume 1 Whitefield's Chapel. Whitfield Chapel, Tottenham Court Road [Map]. Near this Place lies John Bacon (deceased), R.A.1, Sculptor; Who Died Aug. 7th 1799; aged 59 years; and left The Following Inscription For this Tablet: "What I was as an Artist seemed to me of some Importance While I lived; But What I really was, as a Believer in Christ Jesus, is the Only Thing of Importance to me now!"
Note 1. Bacon was born in Southwark, November 24, 1740, he was apprenticed to Mr. Crispe, a manufacturer of china, at Lambeth [Map], where he was employed in painting on porcelain. While here he had an opportunity of seeing the models sent by different sculptors to be burnt, and by them was inspired with a strong desire for his future profession. He was unremitting in his diligence, and his progress was so rapid that he obtained nine of the first premiums of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts. The first of these was for a figure of Peace, in 1758, when he was only eighteen years of age. He was the first person to bring to perfection statues in artificial stone and cement, which has since been brought to great perfection. In 1769 he began to work in marble; and having invented an instrument for transfering the form of the model to marble, he saved a great deal of his time, and brought his instrument to be adopted by other sculptors. In 1769, he obtained from the Royal Academy the first gold medal given by that society, and the year following he was chosen an associate. While modelling the bust of George III. for the hall of Christ Church, Oxford, the King asked him if he had ever been out of the kingdom; and on being answered in the negative, "I'm glad of it," said his Majesty, "you will be the greater honour to it." His execution of this bust gained him the royal patronage, and he was employed in forming another for the university of Gottingen. Among his many works were the statue of Mars, Lord Chatham's monument in Guildhall, a beautiful monument in Bristol Cathedral, to Mrs. Draper, Lord Chatham, in Westminster Abbey, Howard, and Dr. Johnson's in St. Paul's Cathedral, besides a large number of others..
On 30 Mar 1802 [his former wife] Marthe Holland (age 46) died.