The Illustrated London News, 8 June 1872

A part of the Prince's proceedings at Calcutta on New Years Day was, as mentioned above, to unveil a statue of Lord Mayo, of which we give an engraving on page 37. This statue, a collosal equestrian one, the work of Mr Thornycroft, stands on the Maidan, near Government House. In the telegram of the day's doings given by the Times it is stated that several Royals were present, and that Mr Bullen Smith read an address. The Prince expressed a melancholy satisfaction at unveiling the statue of one whom he had been proud to call his friend, and who would have left a great name among Indian Viceroys had he lived. On behalf of the widow, children and friends of Lord Mayo he thanked the committee for what they had done, in honour of his memory. The Prince then unveiled the statue, that is a good likeness.

Equestrian statue of Lord Mayo, Calcutta Illustrated London News, 8 January 1876

Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India, was assassinated on 8 February 1872 at the Andaman Islands, when touring his territories in HMS Glasgow; this event is recorded in both the log of that ship, and William Loney's Medical Journal.

The statue stood at the junction of Mayo Road and Duffrin Road near the Maidan for more than ninety years, but was later removed. The sculptor was Thomas Thornycroft (1815-1885), who worked in the studio of the portrait sculptor John Francis (as did the sculptor of the statue of Queen Victoria in Bombay), and married his daughter Mary. He was also responsible for the statue of Queen Boadicea at Westminster Bridge, London.