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Revolutionary War Hero John Glover is Memorialized on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston


Colonel John Glover, a local hero of the American Revolution, is memorialized on Boston's Commonwealth Avenue Mall with an heroic bronze portrayal by Irish-born sculptor Martin Milmore.

Described as an overlooked hero by the National Park Service, Glover was born in Salem, Massachusetts and became a successful sailor and maritime leader on Boston's North Shore.  His Marblehead Regiment, comprised of sailors and fishermen from Essex County,  were engaged in various battles during the war, from Bunker Hill and Battle of Long Island to the Battle of Rhode Island and the Battle of Saratoga. 

But their most famous role was on Christmas night on December 25, 1776.  According to the National Park Service account of that episode, Glover and his men "ferried 2,400 troops -- again with horses, artillery and wagons -- across the Delaware River under extreme weather conditions. After marching several miles, they fought in the Battle of Trenton, and then transported the army and about 1,000 Hessian prisoners back across the river, all on the same day."

In addition to Glover, General John Sullivan of New Hampshire and Colonel Henry Knox of Boston were also part of that historical episode.

According to historian William M. Walsh, "The larger-than-life figure charged with overall supervision of the crossing and the main architect of its success was Col. Henry Knox, commander of the artillery regiment....Knox later wrote that all the troops were in New Jersey by 2 a.m., without the loss of a man. But a few did take an unwanted swim. Washington stated that the artillery was over by 3 a.m. That means the entire crossing lasted between nine and ten hours, or three hours longer than planned."

In 1871, Milmore was selected to create the monument by Glover's grandson, Jonas Glover, to be erected on Commonwealth Mall between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets.  It was paid for by Benjamin Tyler Reed and was a gift to the city of Boston.

Milmore modeled the colossal statue of Glover while living in Rome, Italy, where he was working on his major piece, the Soldiers and Soldiers Monument on Boston Common and a number of other projects.  Milmore had the plaster casting shipped to Philadelphia, where it was cast in bronze at the John Wood Foundry, before being shipped up to Boston.

According to the Boston Globe, the statue was placed on its granite pedestal on Commonwealth Avenue in mid-October 1875. "Mr. Milmore's design is striking and effective, though it would show to much better advantage if the pedestal were higher," wrote the paper. "Boston may be considered fortunate in having a memorial statue of the Essex General."

The inscription on the base of the monument read: 




Find more information about the John Glover statue from the Friends of the Public Garden. 

Read more information about Martin Milmore and his brothers, who were also sculptors. 

Check out the Irish Heritage Trail for more details on the Irish contributions to Boston. 

Research + Text, Michael Quinlin










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