Subject: Sir William Blackstone
Year: 1920
Sculptor: Paul Wayland Bartlett
Location: Federal Triangle
( Constitution Ave. & 3rd )

Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780) was the author of Blackstone’s Commentaries, in which he explored English common law as the basis for English legal decisions (as opposed to traditional Roman law). This remains a basic text for English and American law scholars. The Founding Fathers were familiar with Blackstone’s work and used it as a foundation for the U.S. Constitution.

The statue was intended to be a gift from the American Bar Association to the English Bar Association but, after it was cast, it was found to be too big to fit in the Hall of Courts in London. This casting was donated to the United States government and a smaller copy was made for the English.