 James II 's statue has stood in several locations since it was first erected . It originally stood in the Palace of Whitehall 's Pebble Court , where it was installed on New Year 's Day , 1686 . It was situated behind the Banqueting House and faced the river , a position which attracted much satirical comment after James ' flight from London during the Glorious Revolution of 1688 ; it was said that the statue 's location indicated his method of escape . 
