Jenny Lind

On the wall of the south transept of Westminster Abbey is a white Sicilian marble monument to the "Swedish nightingale" Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt. The monument is by C.B. Birch and was unveiled on 20th April 1894 by Princess Christian (a daughter of Queen Victoria). Its position was chosen by Dean Stanley, near to Handel's monument, and the monument to Sir Thomas Robinson was cut down to accommodate it. The memorial shows a portrait medallion within a circular frame. Below is a wreathed lyre and ribbons. Around the portrait the inscription reads:

I know that my redeemer liveth

and on the ribbons:

Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt. Born Oct. 6 1820. Died Nov.2 1887

She was born in Stockholm, the daughter of Niclas Lind and Marie Fellborg. She was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Opera School and her first major singing success came in 1838. Then she was appointed Court singer and was much admired by Hans Christian Andersen. She sang to great acclaim in Germany and was feted when she made her London debut. Later she travelled to New York. In 1852 she married Otto Goldschmidt (died 1907) and retired from performing but gave many recitals to support her numerous charities. In 1858 they moved to England with their two sons and daughter. Jenny was appointed the first professor of singing at the Royal College of Music. She is buried in the cemetery at Great Malvern in Worcestershire.

Further Reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

Jenny Lind