John Batchelor - Cardiff, Wales, UK. - Civil Rights Memorials on Waymarking.com

He was born in 1820 in Newport. He moved to Cardiff when he was in his twenties and, like his father, set up as a timber merchant in the West Bute Dock. He was soon successful enough to establish additional timber yards in Merthyr and Aberdare. He took an active part in public life and was a Liberal councillor for Cardiff South from 1850 until 1859. He was also Judge of the Court of Record, and Mayor of Cardiff in 1853/4. He was chosen as President of the Cardiff Liberal Association on its formation in 1869 and he held the office until shortly before his death. He was a Congregationalist and was responsible for the foundation of a new chapel in Charles Street. He was involved in education, commerce and the building of Penarth Docks of which he became a director in 1856. Although this flourished initially, Batchelor lost money heavily and eventually his business went into liquidation. He was viewed as the 'champion of municipal reform' who had 'stood at the helm of the Liberal cause' against the all-powerful Bute/Tory alliance in Cardiff and there was suspicion that the bankruptcy of his shipbuilding business was the result of a conspiracy by the Bute estate. After his business collapsed, his friends and fellow-Liberals collected £5,000 which was presented to him in cash at a meeting in Cardiff. He remained in Cardiff and carried on his business as an agent.

Immediately after Batchelor's death, a subscription fund was opened for a memorial to commemorate his public service and J. Milo Griffith received the commission for £1,000 in 1884. The statue evoked strong emotions in Cardiff with the Western Mail publishing a mock epitaph written by political rivals. This led to an assault on the paper's editor by Batchelor's sons. In January 1887 the council was presented with a petition signed by 1200 people requesting the removal of the statue as it was occupying valuable ground and because he was a man 'whose memory is associated with the politics of a particular party'. The petition was rejected. Also in January 1887 the statue was daubed with paint and coal tar. The statue remained in situ and became a popular venue for open-air political meetings.

The statue was sculpted by James Milo Griffith and was unveilled on 16th October 1886.

The statue of Batchelor is a standing bronze figure in contemporary dress, left leg forward, indicating with right arm, holding papers to body with left hand.

Civil Right Type: National Origin

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