John Bacon, an English sculptor, born at South wark, Nov. 24, 1740, died Aug. 7, 1799. He was apprenticed at an early age to a porcelain manufacturer, in whose employment he learned the art of painting on china, and also of making ornamental figures in that material. At the age of 18 he sent a small figure of Peace to the society for the encouragement of arts, and received a premium of ten guineas. On nine successive occasions he carried off similar prizes from the society. Bacon was employed at Lambeth to make statues of artificial stone, an art which he did much to develop and render popular. On the opening of the royal academy in 1768 he became one of its students, and the next year gained the first gold medal for sculpture. In 1770 he was chosen an associate of that body. His principal works were two busts of George III.; a monument to the founder of Guy's hospital, South-wark; a monument to Lord Chatham, in Guildhall; a monument to Lord Halifax, in Westminster abbey; the statue of Blackstone in All Souls college, Oxford; a statue of Henry VI. for the ante-chapel at Eton; a recumbent figure of the Thames, in the courtyard of Somerset House; the statues of Howard and Johnson in St. Paul's cathedral; and a second monument of Chatham in Westminster abbey.