General Harrison Gray Otis - Los Angeles, CA
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Metro2
N 34° 03.568 W 118° 16.749
11S E 381951 N 3769487
Although known for many different things, Harrison Gray Otis is depicted in this sculpture in the uniform he wore as a Brigadier General during the Spanish-American War.
Waymark Code: WMGYQ4
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/24/2013
Views: 4
This sculpture by Paul Troubetzkoy does not mention the Spanish-American War but, Harrison Gray Otis, best known for being the publisher of the Los Angeles Times, is identified on the accompanying plaque as Gen. Harrison Gray Otis..a title he only held during that War.
The Smithsonian inventory (
visit link) describes the work thusly:
"Dressed in uniform, General Harrison Gray Otis stands on a large flat rock, holding his sword pointed downward in his proper left hand. He points outward with his proper right hand. Below him on smaller rocks is a newsboy shouting the headlines and brandishing his papers, and (now missing) a soldier holding a flag. On the side of the main stone base is a relief that appears to depict the planet earth with women walking in front of it, holding hands."
The Inventory also informs us that the inscription reads:
"GENERAL HARRISON GRAY OTIS/1837-1917/SOLDIER, JOURNALIST, FRIEND/OF FREEDOM/"STAND FAST, STAND FIRM,/STAND SURE, STAND TRUE"
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us:
"Harrison Gray Otis (1837–1917) was the president and general manager of the Times-Mirror Company, publisher of the Los Angeles Times...
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, he left his job as a compositor in the office of the Louisville Journal to volunteer as a private for the Union army. Otis fought in the 23rd Ohio Infantry. He was promoted through the ranks and was made on officer, a lieutenant, in November 1862 and left the Army in July 1865 as a captain...
When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Otis asked President William McKinley for an appointment as Assistant Secretary of War. But Secretary of War Russell A. Alger did not want the conservative Otis serving under him. Otis thereupon again volunteered for the Army and was appointed brigadier general of volunteers. He served in the Philippines. He did not see any action against the Spanish, but commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, VIII Corps during the Philippine-American War."