# William Marks Simpson

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**William Marks Simpson** (August 24, 1903-October 22, 1958) was an American [sculptor](/source/Sculptor) and teacher.[1] He was hired by the [United States Bureau of the Mint](/source/United_States_Mint) to design some of the [commemorative coins](/source/Commemorative_coin) including the [Battle of Antietam half dollar](/source/Battle_of_Antietam_half_dollar), [Roanoke Island, North Carolina, half dollar](/source/Roanoke_Island,_North_Carolina,_half_dollar) and [Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar](/source/Norfolk,_Virginia,_Bicentennial_half_dollar).[2][3] He also designed the [Allied war memorial Guadalcanal](/source/Guadalcanal_American_Memorial).[4]

## Biography

William Marks Simpson was born in 1903 in [Norfolk, Virginia](/source/Norfolk,_Virginia), United States. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the [Virginia Military Institute](/source/Virginia_Military_Institute) in 1924. He graduated from the [Rinehart School of Sculpture](/source/Rinehart_School_of_Sculpture), [Maryland Institute of Art](/source/Maryland_Institute_of_Art), where he later became its director. He was also a Fellow of the [American Academy in Rome](/source/American_Academy_in_Rome).[2][5]

He married Marjorie Emory Simpson, a graduate of the Rinehart School of Sculpture, with her, in 1936, he designed the Norfolk, Virginia, Bicentennial half dollar.[6][7][8]

In 1930 he was a recipient of the [Prix de Rome](/source/Prix_de_Rome).[9]

During World War II Simpson volunteered for service and served with the Army in the Pacific from 1942 until 1946. While in the service he designed two decorative grille-works for the entrance at the Army headquarters building at Honolulu and at [Guadalcanal American Memorial](/source/Guadalcanal_American_Memorial). He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his designs.[10]

He taught at the Virginia Military Institute from 1953-1956.

William Marks Simpson died on October 22, 1958.

## References

1. Alexandridis, Annetta (2022). [*Destroy the Copy – Plaster Cast Collections in the 19th–20th Centuries: Demolition, Defacement, Disposal in Europe and Beyond*](https://books.google.com/books?id=9q97EAAAQBAJ). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. N.A. ISBN 978-3-110-75799-6. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

1. Heuvel, Sean M. (2011). [*Life After J.E.B. Stuart: The Memoirs of His Granddaughter, Marrow Stuart Smith*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YzKTNWDAdRgC). Government Institutes. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-761-85464-7. Retrieved April 27, 2023. William Marks Simpson (b. 1903) was a noted sculptor who did engraving work for the United States Mint

1. Downing, Sarah (February 25, 2019). [*Hidden History of the Outer Banks*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Wqd2CQAAQBAJ). Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. N.A. ISBN 978-1-614-23947-5. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

1. ["William Marks Simpson"](https://www.archives.govt.nz/images/william-marks-simpson). *archives.govt.nz*. Archives New Zealand. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

1. Clarke, Carl Dame (1946). [*Molding and Casting for Moulage Workers, Sculptors, Artists, Physicians, Dentists, Criminologists, Craftsmen, Pattern Makers and Architectural Modelers*](https://books.google.com/books?id=J0tYKOw5AIgC). Standard Arts Press. p. vii. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

1. Yeoman, R. S. (2005). [*A Guide Book of United States Coins 2006*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rlo59YJsQC4C). Atlanta, Georgia: Whitman Publishing LLC. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-626-19703-9. Retrieved April 27, 2023.

1. Downing, Sarah (2015). [*On This Day in Norfolk, Virginia History*](https://books.google.com/books?id=RcrzCQAAQBAJ). Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-626-19703-9. Retrieved April 27, 2023. The Seventy-fifth Congress authorized the minting of a silver half-dollar to mark both the 300th anniversary of the Norfolk land grant as well as the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Borough of Norfolk [...] The half-dollar was designed by artist William Marks Simpson.

1. Yeoman, Richard S (1976). *A Guide Book of United States Coins*. Western Publishing Company. p. 204. William Marks Simpson and his wife, Marjorie Emory Simpson, designed the piece

1. Parramore, Thomas C. (2000). [*Norfolk: The First Four Centuries*](https://books.google.com/books?id=pWiCMTB35mEC). Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-813-91988-1. Retrieved April 27, 2023. Sculptor William Marks Simpson Jr., a Norfolk native, was in 1930 awarded the Prix de Rome, one of the most coveted prizes in the plastic arts.

1. ["The V.M.I. Cadet"](https://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/digital/collection/p15821coll8/id/11465/rec/8). *VMI Archives Digital Collection*. October 24, 1958.

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