Background
Kelly, James Edward was born on July 30, 1855 in New York, New York, United States. Son of Patrick Paul and Julia Finly (Golden) Kelly.
Kelly, James Edward was born on July 30, 1855 in New York, New York, United States. Son of Patrick Paul and Julia Finly (Golden) Kelly.
Educational public schools. Studied art, National Academy Design. Studied wood engraving, 1871.
In Harper’s art department, 1874. Illustrator for Scribner’s, Saint Nicholas, et cetera, until 1881. Since then exclusively sculptor.
His first piece of sculpture was Sheridan’s Ride, 1878.
40 gens., including Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Hancock, gave him sittings for a series of bronzes. Prominent works: relief of Edison, from life, with first phonograph, 1879.
Monmouth Battle Monument, including Molly Pitcher, 1885. Paul Revere, 1882; 6th New York Cavalry, Gettysburg, 1890.
Call to Arms, Troy, New York, 1891.
Long Island—Panel. General John Bulford at Gettysburg, 1895. Battle of Harlem Heights Memorial, Columbia College, 1897.
Equestrian figures General Sherman, Colonel Roosevelt at San Juan Hill.
Busts from life of Admiral Dewey, Admiral Sampson, Lieutenant Hobson, Admiral C. East. Clark, and President Roosevelt as colonel of the “Rough Riders,” panels from life of Dewey’s captains, Sampson’s captains, and Generals Joseph Wheeler, Leonard Wood, J. H. Wilson and equestrian statue of General Fitz John Porter at Portsmouth, New Hampshire (U.S.) Washington at Valley Forge, Sub-Treasury Building, New New York McKinley memorial at Wilmington, Delaware.
Defenders’ monument, New Haven, 1909. “Wilson at Selma”; Count Rochambeau at Southington, Connecticut.
Father Hecker, founder and the superior general of the Paulist order.
Memorial to General Thomas West. Sweeney. Memorial to General O. O. Howard, for Howard University, Washington. War memorial to soldiers and sailors, Kingston, New York, 1919.
Equestrian bronze of George Hope Ryder, Doctor of Medicine 1922.
Caesar Rodney equestrian monument, Wilmington, Delaware, 1923. Bronze reliefs of Rodney Declaring for Independence, 1924, Rodney’s Arrival at Independence Hall, 1925.
Bronze group of Leather Stocking and the Last of the Mohicans, 1926. Bust of Thomas A. Edison, 1927.
Bronze, Destruction of Bridge at Princeton (1777), 1928.
Bronze of Isaac Sears Striking First Blow for Liberty (1770), 1931. Home: New York, New New York
Married Helen McKay, February 27, 1922.