It was erected in 1913 on Anchor Square in front of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt.

Sherwood chose to use as the pedestal a 160-ton granite rock originally cut for a monument to Paul I in front of Kazan Cathedral, which sank in transit to Saint Petersburg.

Sherwood was educated at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1886–91) and the Imperial Academy of Arts, St Petersburg (1892–1898).

Returning to Russia, he lived in Petrograd and was employed by Vladimir Lenin for monumental sculpture.

[1] Sherwood was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and was made a Distinguished Artist of the RSFSR.