Statue Of Doctor John Alderson Outside Hull Royal Infirmary (Infirmary Not Included)

The statue of Dr John Alderson, erected in 1833, is located outside Hull Royal Infirmary. It was sculpted by Sir Richard Westmacott, who lived from 1775 to 1856. The statue is made of white marble and stands on a square ashlar base. It depicts Dr Alderson in ceremonial dress, holding an open book. The base features a deeply moulded design, with an inscription on the front panel that reads "John Alderson, MD," and below it, "Erected by public subscription AD MDCCCXXXIII."

Originally, the statue was placed outside the old Royal Infirmary on Prospect Street but was relocated to its current position after the infirmary was demolished. Dr John Alderson, who lived from 1757 to 1829, served as a physician at Hull General Infirmary from 1792 until his death. He was instrumental in founding the Sculcoates ‘refuge for the insane’ in 1814 and authored many works on medicine and public health. Alderson was also a prominent figure in the community, serving as president of the Hull Subscription Library and the Literary and Philosophical Society, as well as being the founder and first president of the Hull Mechanic’s Institute. It is reported that between 12,000 and 15,000 people attended his funeral.