M-1857 light field gun, on non-original replica carriage. This 12 -pounder Napoleon 1862 cannon, known as "Big John" from Foundry No. 1144, Cyrus Alger & Co., Boston. The gun has a 1600 yard range with 12 lb. solid iron shot. The gun weighs 1217 Lbs.
Collection
Naval History and Heritage Command Collection
Made/Created
Artist
Cyrus Alger & Co.
Date made
1862
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Cannon
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Artillery
Nomenclature Class
Armaments
Nomenclature Category
Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology
Search Terms
U.S. Navy
Material
Bronze
Interpretative Labels
Label
These guns once used to both defend the harbor and signal the approach of evening. While the carriages are modern reproductions, painted in a color period correct for the 1860s, the bronze cannon are original.
These cannon arrived in San Diego aboard the side-wheeler Orizaba on Sunday, September 19, 1886. A fine scale model of the Orizaba is displayed in one of the Berkeley’s exhibit areas. They are know as “Napoleons” because this type of 12-pounder gun was originally designed and founded in France in 1850 at the request of the French emperor Louis Napoleon III. “El Justin” dates from 1863, and like its partner “Big John” no doubt saw action during the Civil War. Archival photographs suggest that they were first located near the harbor’s edge adjacent to the US Army barracks in the vicinity of what is today Seaport Village.
The US Navy eventually acquired the guns and their were restored with the assistance of local volunteers and Navy personnel. Since 1993 they have been on permanent loan to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
