He left behind one of the greatest works of art of all time. John Bacon, born in 1740, would go on to be the sculptor of Father Thames made of Coade stone. The sculpture would later be best known for its final home located in London at Ham House.

At the young age of fourteen, Bacon would begin an apprenticeship to a manufacturer at Lambeth. He was first employed to paint porcelain but would quickly move through the ranks and begin to check out the pieces of other artists to decide which works of art would go on to be burned as pottery pieces.

Bacon used his employment to find his own start as an artist. He discovered the works of various other sculptors and did his best to learn what he could from each of them. In 1758, Bacon would even earn his own recognition for a piece he submitted to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts. His piece won an award and it was the beginning of a total of nine similar prizes.

Bacon went on to perfect the use of stone work. He worked for the Coade Artificial Stone Manufactory by 1769 and soon he mastered his ability to work with the stone. In 1769, The Royal Academy awarded him a gold medal for his artistic achievements within the world of art. The following year, his artwork captured more attention for the creation he mastered in the Mars exhibit. He won a Society of Arts gold medal.

He died in 1799. Today, his best work is displayed at Westminster Abbey where his monuments allow his artistic talent and legacy to live on.