17th c Spanish Cannon (named San Pedro)

Cannon mounted on a four wheeled carriage with the following inscription: "This gun is believed to have been taken at Manilla by Draper in the year 1762 AD" 

According to HD Love this is one of two cannons taken from Manila that used to flank the escudo de armas and plaque installed at the Artillery Park inside Fort St  George in 1776. (1)

According to Museum records, this cannon was named San Pedro.

https://museum.dealstvm.com/uploads/topics/16527878908234.pdf  

A visual inspection of the canon in April 2023 by Cristina Juan showed that the canon has the coat of arms of Spain and another smaller and older inscription in Spanish that gives a clue regarding the canon's provenience.The very faded text seems to indicate that the canon was cast in 1604 at "Chapulrepeque," by order of Don Juan of Mendoza and Luna, Marquess of Montesclaros." 

A similar cannon named  San Lorenzo, a few inches shorter in length, also bears  the arms of Spain and has a similar inscription of its provenience. According to Lovelace, these 2 cannons came with "480 pieces of brass ordnance, captured at Manila."  A few pieces of these brass helmets and shields are still kept at the Government Museum in Chennai.

(1) (see pp n630 from Love, H. D. , Vestiges of Old Madras Volume 2 (1996)

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Images

Map    The Government Museum, Chennai

Origin

taken from Manila, Philippines

Connection to Philippines

Spanish manufacture, but taken by the British from Intramuros during the British Invasion of Manila in 1762.

Materials

Gun metal

Physical Dimensions

Length 394 cm. Height with carriage
135 cm.

Provenance

Museum records indicate that this piece was transferred from Fort St George in Chennai to the Government Museum of Chennai in 1851.

Acquisition Date

c. 1763-1765

Display status

On permanent display

Official Website

https://museum.dealstvm.com/uploads/topics/16527878908234.pdf

Collection

The Government Museum, Chennai

Cite this Page

“17th c Spanish Cannon (named San Pedro),” Mapping Philippine Material Culture, accessed April 27, 2024, https://philippinestudies.uk/mapping/items/show/29343.

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Related Items

Bronze Plaque for Escudo de Armas (Coat of Arms)Escudo de Armas (Coat of Arms)17th c Spanish Cannon ( San Lorenzo)Spanish Armouries taken from Manila in 1762


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