William Nott - Portrait and Figureheads

 Nott Square, Carmarthen

Nott Square, Carmarthen
credit - From People’s Collection Wales

Nott Square in Carmarthen occupies part of the site of the town’s medieval marketplace and town cross. The market gradually disappeared: the cross was removed in 1783, and by 1846 the market itself had been relocated, leaving space for the open square we see today. It was named in honour of Sir William Nott.

At the centre of the square stands a bronze statue of Nott, cast in 1849 from guns captured at the Battle of Maharajpur (1839) and erected in 1851. The monument commemorates his achievements during the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42).

Who was Sir William Nott?

Sir William Nott
portrait 
by John Deffett Francis,
circa 1845

Sir William Nott was a Welsh soldier who served in the Bengal Army of the British East India Company. Born near Neath, Glamorganshire, he began his service in India in 1800 and rose steadily through the ranks, eventually becoming a Major-General.

Nott’s reputation rests largely on his leadership in the First Anglo-Afghan War. Stationed at Kandahar, he successfully defended the city against repeated Afghan attacks in 1842 and refused evacuation orders he believed had been issued under duress. Later that year, he led his troops from Kandahar to Kabul, defeating Afghan forces along the way, retaking Ghazni, and recovering the Somnath Gates. In Kabul, he joined forces with General Pollock, helping to restore British prestige after the disastrous retreat from the city.

For his service, Nott was knighted, appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), awarded a substantial pension, and later became Resident at Lucknow. Poor health forced his return to Britain, and he died in Carmarthen in 1845.

Nott’s Connections to Swansea

Despite his ties to Carmarthen, William Nott also has two notable connections with Swansea:

1. A portrait by John Deffett Francis

John Deffett Francis

Around 1845, Swansea-born artist John Deffett Francis painted Nott’s portrait, which is now part of the British Museum collection.

Francis (1815–1901) trained at the Royal Academy Schools in London and established himself as a skilled portraitist. His pencil, chalk, and watercolour works were admired for their accuracy and sensitivity, and he depicted many leading cultural and public figures, including Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Felix Mendelssohn, and Sir William Nott. Over his career, he produced more than 300 portraits, many of which were engraved and widely circulated.

Alongside his art, Francis was an avid collector of prints, drawings, and rare books. His personal library grew to some 7,000 volumes, with around 2,000 prints and drawings, covering art, literature, history, and biography. His ambition was not only to preserve knowledge but also to make it accessible to the public.John Deffett Francis

In the late 19th century, he donated this collection to Swansea Public Library, where it was housed in what became known as the Deffett Francis Art Gallery—one of the town’s first dedicated art spaces. When the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery opened in 1911, the collection was transferred there, ensuring its preservation and continued visibility within Swansea’s growing cultural center.

2. The ship General Sir William Nott

Sir William Nott barque circa 1846
moored River Tawe

In 1845, a Swansea shipowner launched a barque named in honour of the general. Its figurehead, a full-length carving of Nott in military uniform, made it a striking tribute. The vessel carried copper ore from places as far away as Cuba to Swansea’s smelting works—at that time the foundation of its identity as “Copperopolis.”

Tragically, in 1848, the ship was destroyed by fire on a return voyage from Cuba. Its loss not only ended the life of a vessel commemorating a Welsh hero but also reflected both the risks of long-distance maritime trade and Swansea’s central role in the 19th-century global copper industry.