Statue of Thomas Coram

A Monument to Compassion and Perseverance

The bronze statue of Thomas Coram sits in quiet dignity on Brunswick Square, a fitting tribute to a man whose determination transformed the lives of thousands of abandoned children in 18th-century London. Designed by renowned sculptor William Macmillan, the statue was unveiled on 8 May 1963 by Princess Mary, President of the Coram charity. The figure depicts Coram in a seated position, holding a scroll in his right hand—a pose deliberately chosen to echo William Hogarth's celebrated portrait of the philanthropist, painted in 1740. The granite base bears the inscription "Thomas Coram 1668–1751. Pioneer in the cause of child welfare," with a more detailed bronze plaque on the reverse side recounting his achievements.

The Vision Behind the Monument

Thomas Coram was a sea captain and merchant who spent much of his early career in the American colonies, where he accumulated considerable wealth through shipbuilding and trade. Upon returning to England in 1720, he was profoundly disturbed by the sight of abandoned infants dying on London's streets. Moved by compassion and driven by an unwavering moral conviction, he embarked on an extraordinary 17-year campaign to establish a foundling hospital—a place where these vulnerable children could be cared for and educated. His vision was revolutionary for its time, as many in society believed that providing for illegitimate children would encourage immorality. Coram's persistence, however, proved unstoppable.

Triumph Through Strategic Advocacy

Coram's breakthrough came through an ingenious strategy: recognizing that noblemen were reluctant to support his cause, he turned to their wives and daughters. The "21 Ladies of Quality and Distinction"—including the Duchess of Somerset, the Duchess of Bolton, and the Duchess of Manchester—lent their names and influence to his petition. Their endorsement proved decisive. In October 1739, King George II granted the Royal Charter for the "Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Young Children." The first children were admitted in 1741, and by 1745, the purpose-built hospital opened in Bloomsbury on Lamb's Conduit Fields, designed by architect Theodore Jacobsen as a plain brick structure with two wings and a chapel.

Art, Music, and Cultural Legacy

The Foundling Hospital became far more than a children's home; it evolved into a beacon of enlightenment and culture. William Hogarth, who had supported Coram from the outset, transformed the institution into England's first public art gallery, encouraging leading artists to donate their works. George Frideric Handel, the court composer, held benefit concerts to raise funds, including a legendary performance of Messiah that raised £7,000. Handel donated the manuscript of the Hallelujah Chorus to the hospital and composed the Foundling Hospital Anthem specifically for performances there. This convergence of philanthropy, art, and music made the hospital one of London's most fashionable venues and a symbol of enlightened charity.

The Statue's Contemporary Context

The statue itself is relatively modern, installed nearly 60 years before the current date. It was crafted by Morris Singer Founders, London, and bears their maker's mark. The seated pose, while uncommon for commemorative statuary of the era, carries historical significance rooted in Hogarth's portraiture. Interestingly, an earlier standing statue of Coram once stood at the entrance to Coram's Fields (the playground that now occupies part of the original hospital site), but it was gifted to Taunton, Massachusetts in 1927, honoring Coram's early success in America. The current statue remains one of Bloomsbury's most poignant reminders of individual conscience transformed into lasting social change.

A Living Legacy

While the original Foundling Hospital building was demolished in the 1930s when the institution relocated to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, the Foundling Museum now occupies 40 Brunswick Square, preserving the hospital's art collection and history. The statue stands as a permanent witness to Coram's vision—a man whose name, as the inscription at Ashlyns School (the former hospital school) declares, "will never want a Monument, so long as this Hospital shall subsist." Today, the Coram Group of charities continues his work, supporting more than a million children and young people annually.