Description
GREAT BRITAIN / NEWFOUNDLAND Memorial University - 1924 John Lewis Paton 86.7mm x 63.2mm bronze plaque 184 grams by John Cassidy
The purpose of the medal was likely to celebrate Dr. Paton's role as headmaster of the Manchester Grammar School in the UK. where Dr. Paton served as headmaster from 1902-1924. He moved to Newfoundland as the first president of Memorial University College where he served from 1925 to 1933.
Surprisingly the piece has the edge marked with a triangular mint mark for the Parisian firm of Arthus-Bertrand and BRONZE.
John Cassidy (1860-1939) was born in the townland of Littlewood Commons, Slane, County Meath, Ireland. He moved to Dublin at the age of 20 to find work. There he attended art classes at night and won a scholarship to study in Milan, Italy. After two years, he moved to Manchester, England, where he lived for the rest of his life. He studied at the Manchester School of Art in 1883 and taught there in 1887. He created many public sculptures, especially war memorials, and exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Hibernian Academy and in Manchester City Art Gallery.
