Captain John Macgregor Skinner
An obelisk stands above the harbour in Holyhead, an arresting landmark to anyone approaching by land or sea. It is made of pale stone and decorated with high-relief urns, torches and, most revealingly, the prow of a ship. The monument is dedicated to Captain John Macgregor Skinner, a man remembered for "zeal, intrepidity and fidelity," for a celebrated biography that spanned rebellions and revolutions, and for invaluable contributions to 19th-century Holyhead.
Captain Skinner was born in Colonial North America in the 1760s and died off the coast of Anglesey seventy years later. After he was washed overboard in a terrible storm, the people of Holyhead came together and funded the impressive monument, a testament to his standing in the local community.
Holyhead Maritime Museum displays several artefacts, kindly donated by Mrs Kathleen Hughes of Birmingham. Each object tells a different story about Captain Skinner, the historical events he witnessed, and the impact he left on Holyhead. Altogether they paint a fascinating picture of the man behind the monument.
Cover image: Tony Bennett 'Skinner's Monument' (ArtUK)
