US

The English roots probably explain the large number of equestrian statues in the US. Most of these commemorate two major events in American history: the War of Independence (1775–1783) and the American Civil War (1861–1865). However, the Native Americans and the migration to the West have also their share. Remarkable is the wide variety of what I term the ‘new Americans’. Equestrian statues of the new riches: from casino owners to actors and from cattle owners to self-made millionaires.
The first equestrian statue in the US, of George III, was unveiled in 1770. However, only six years later, on the occasion of the Declaration of Independence, it was destroyed by soldiers and the patriotic populace of New York. The royal rider and his prancing steed were cut into pieces, carefully gathered and shipped to nearby Litchfield, where they were cast into bullets, later to be fired at his majesty’s troops. The official reports show that the output from this unexpected supply of metal was exactly 42,088 cartridges.

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