William McMillan (sculptor)

William McMillan RA (31 August 1887 – 25 September 1977) was a British sculptor and medal-designer, active in the 20th century. He is said to have been both tall and “extremely handsome”.

He was born at 37 Powis Place, Aberdeen, Scotland, the son of William McMillan, master engraver, and Jane Knight.

He studied at Gray's Art School and then at the Royal College of Art, London from 1908 to 1912, under Édouard Lantéri. McMillan joined The Artists Rifles in World War I and was Commissioned into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 5 December 1915.

In 1916, he married Dorothy, daughter of the Carlisle architect Maurice Charles Williams. They had no children.

For most of his married life he had a studio at Glebe Place in Chelsea, London and was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club. A faux blue plaque exists at 63 Glebe Place, stating “William McMillan lived here”. Even if this were the correct address, Glebe Place was his place of work not residence.

He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1925, a full member in 1933 and a Senior RA in 1962. From 1929 to 1941 he was Master of the Royal Academy Sculpture School.

From 1940 to 1966 he became involved in a number of important and prestigious public commissions, and became more widely recognised at international level.

He was assaulted and robbed in September 1977, shortly after his ninetieth birthday, and died of his injuries on 25 September 1977 in a hospital at Richmond upon Thames. He was buried in Richmond Cemetery.

He was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1956. His home city of Aberdeen made him a Freeman of the City and Aberdeen University conferred an honorary doctorate upon him.

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