WILKINS, WILLIAM #

English Greek Revival architect, for whom see Howard Colvin, A Biographical dictionary of British architects 1600-1840 (4th edn., 2008), 1122-1125. Early in his career William Wilkins won the competition for designing the Nelson monument in Dublin, a Doric column surmounted by a statue of Nelson, which was erected in Sackville (O'Connell) Street in 1808-9.(1) He exhibited his design at the Royal Academy in 1809 (No. 874). In 1811 he entered the competition for designing the Commercial Buildings in Cork, which was won by THOMAS DEANE. THOMAS DEANE. (2) He was also an entrant in the Dublin Wellington Monument competition of 1814; his proposal for a Corinthian column was short-listed but was eventually turned down in favour of ROBERT SMIRKE' ROBERT SMIRKE' s obelisk.(3)

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References

(1) See Patrick Henchy, 'Nelson's Pillar', Dublin Historical Record 10, No. 2 (Jun-Aug 1948), 53-63.
(2) C.P. Curran, 'Benjamin Woodward, Ruskin and the O'Sheas', Studies 29 (Jun 1940), 258; Frederick O'Dwyer, The Architecture of Deane and Woodward (1997), 3-5.
(3) NLI PF 20 (AD 1927?), exhib. Irish Architectural Drawings Exhibition, 1965, no. 22; John Leslie Foster, A Letter on the fittest style and situation for the Wellington Trophy about to be erected in Dublin (1815), 20-26.; P.F. Garnett, 'The Wellington Testimonial', Dublin Historical Record 13, No. 2 (Jun-Aug 1952), 50.

3 work entries listed in chronological order for WILKINS, WILLIAM #

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Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, O'CONNELL STREET LOWER, NELSON MONUMENT
Date:	1806;1808-09809
Nature:	WW winner of competition (held in 1807?) with design for Greek Doric column topped by a Roman galley.  Monument erected in modified (less expensive) form with statue of Nelson replacing galley under supervision of Francis Johnston. FS laid 15 Feb 1808. Built by Thomas Baker and Robert McCartney, stonecutter.. Opened 21 Oct 1809. (Blown up by IRA and demolished, 1966.)
Refs:	RA 1809, No. 874; Patrick Henchy, 'Nelson's Pillar', Dublin Historical Record 10, No. 2 (Jun-Aug 1948), 53-63;  Paula Murphy, Nineteenth-Century Irish Sculpture:  Native Genius Reaffirmed  (Yale University Press:  New Haven & London, 2010), 17,238-240,Figs.13,319;  Christine Casey, The Buildings of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 213.

Building:	CO. CORK, CORK, SOUTH MALL, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Date:	1811
Nature:	Competition entrant. Competition won by Thomas Deane.
Refs:	C.P. Curran, 'Benjamin Woodward, Ruskin and the O'Sheas', Studies 29 (Jun 1940), 258; Frederick O'Dwyer, The Architecture of Deane and Woodward (1997), 3-5

Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, PHOENIX PARK, WELLINGTON TESTIMONIAL
Date:	1814ca
Nature:	WW entrant in Wellington Testimonial competition; his design for Corinthian column shortlisted..
Refs:	NLI PF 20 (AD 1927?), Irish Architectural Drawings (exhibition catalogue,1965), 9 (no. 22); John Leslie Foster, A Letter on the fittest style and situation for the Wellington Trophy about to be erected in Dublin (1815), 20-26.; P.F. Garnett, 'The Wellington Testimonial', Dublin Historical Record 13, No. 2 (Jun-Aug 1952), 50