William McMillan

William McMillan (31 August 1887 – 25 September 1977) was a Scottish sculptor, notable for a number of public statues in the United Kingdom.

Biography McMillan was born at 37 Powis Place, Aberdeen, Scotland, the son of William McMillan, a master engraver, and Jane Knight. McMillan joined The Artists Rifles in World War I, and served as an officer in the 5th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during the conflict.

McMillan exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 1917 until 1971. He was elected an associate of the Academy in 1925, a full member in 1933 and a Senior RA in 1962.

From 1940 to 1966 McMillan became involved in a number of important and prestigious public commissions, and became more widely recognised at international level. He was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1956. His home city of Aberdeen made him a Freeman of the City and Aberdeen University conferred an honorary doctorate upon him.

For most of his career he had a studio at Glebe Place in Chelsea, London, and was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club. A faux blue plaque exists at 63 Glebe Place, stating "William McMillan lived here". Even if this were the correct address, Glebe Place was his place of work not residence. In his later years he lived at 3 Cholmondley Walk, Richmond, London. Shortly after his 90th birthday in September 1977 he was assaulted and robbed. He died of his injuries on 25 September 1977 in a hospital in Richmond upon Thames.

Selected works 1920-1939

1940-1949

1950-1959

1960 and later

Other works

The Invocation, 1910 Commissioned to design both the "British War Medal" and "Victory Medal", 1919 Bust of A. G. Macdonnell, author, 1923 Syrinx, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow, 1925 Tam O’Shanter, 1926 Statuette in green slate, 1927 Memorial plaque to Sir Aston Webb, 1930, St Paul's Cathedral, London Dancer, 1931 The Birth of Venus, marble, Tate Gallery, 1931 Statue of J. M. W. Turner, commissioned by the Royal Academy, 1936 The Naked Truth, 1936 Mother and Child, 1938 King George V, 1938, bronze statue, originally erected in Eden Gardens, Kolkata and moved to Barrackpore during the 1970s