Few People Know The Iconic Daniel Webster Statue In New Hampshire Was Actually Imported From Germany
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Ken MacGray
Author
Concord, the capital city of New Hampshire, is rich with historic buildings and landmarks. Statues of famous figures from the state’s past line the sidewalks of downtown. One them, revered as a state icon, was in fact created some 3,800 miles away.
Daniel Webster, born in Salisbury, New Hampshire in 1782, was a representative in the U.S. Congress and also served as Secretary of State under three separate presidents in the 19th century. He was an accomplished attorney of his time, having argued over 200 cases before the Supreme Court.
Webster (center) became a vocal opponent of Andrew Jackson's (left) domestic policies after the latter's win over John Quincy Adams in the 1828 U.S. presidential election. Their political differences led to the creation of the Whig Party, a predecessor of the modern Republican Party.
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Webster was an experienced and fearless orator. In January of 1830, he took on Senator Robert Y. Hayne of South Carolina in a heated debate regarding land surveying and the buying and selling of property. It is considered one of the most eloquent speeches ever delivered.
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Webster's statue stands in front of the State House in Concord. It was originally designed by American sculptor Thomas Ball. The statue was later cast in bronze by Ferdinand von Miller Foundry in Munich, Germany in 1885, and formally dedicated in 1886.
Webster's memorial on the State House lawn weighs some two thousand pounds, not including the base. Along with the State House itself, the statue is one of many historic landmarks in downtown Concord.
For his time, Webster lived a long and fruitful life. On October 24, 1852, after a period of declining health, he passed away at his estate in Marshfield, Massachusetts. He will always be remembered as a pivotal figure in American politics.
In addition to this statue, several other memorials to Daniel Webster are located around New Hampshire. If you’ve visited one that you’d like our readers to know about, please share it in the comments.
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