William Glass’ grave

William Glass (1786-1853) was the Scottish corporal from Kelso in Scotland, who established Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, the island’s main settlement.  He died on the island and when Queen Victoria’s second son, HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, visited the island in 1867, this impressive gravestone was put in place here.  Its inscription reads ‘William Glass, born at Kelso Scotland, founder of the settlement of Tristan d’Acunha, in which he resided 27 years and fell asleep in Jesus, Nov 24, 1853, Aged 67 years.’  The stone also contains four lines of poetry.  Many descendants of William Glass live on the island.

The headstone was damaged in October 2014, since which time the two damaged parts of the stone have been joined together again.