Galesburg in Knox County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Spanish-American War Cannon

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 24, 2024

1. Spanish-American War Cannon

Inscription. Captured at Santiago 1898

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • War, Spanish-American.

Location. 40° 56.693′ N, 90° 22.247′ W. Memorial is in Galesburg, Illinois, in Knox County. It is on South Cherry Street near East Tompkins Street. The memorial stands on the northwest grounds of the courthouse. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 200 S Cherry St, Galesburg IL 61401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mary A. Bickerdyke (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Site of Galesburg Sr. High School (within shouting distance of this marker); Tompkins Street (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Knox County Armed Forces Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Knox County Soldiers Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beecher Chapel (about 300 feet away); Lincoln-Douglas Debate (about 500 feet away); This Memorial Tablet (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galesburg.

Also see . . . The "Spanish" Cannon by Barbara Schock. A description of how a bronze French cannon Captured in the Spanish-American War wound up at a courthouse in Illinois

The United States captured sixty-seven cannons at Santiago, Cuba, during the Spanish-American War in 1898. When it became known the cannons would be distributed across the United States, the members of Post 45, Grand Army of the Republic, decided to acquire one. They wrote to their congressman, George W. Prince, a resident of Galesburg, and used their influence with the governor, Joseph Tanner. He was also a veteran of the Civil War.

On August 3, 1899, letters from Congressman Prince and Governor Tanner were read at the Post meeting indicating Galesburg would receive one
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 19, 2023

2. Spanish-American War Cannon
Knox County Courthouse is in the background on the left
of the five cannon allotted to Illinois...

The bronze cannon was cast sometime between 1748 and 1755 during the reign of the French king Louis XIV. It was named “l'Effronte” which means insolence. The king's coat of arms appears on the rear of the cannon. Latin inscriptions appear on the top of the muzzle, one of which reads “Ultima Ratio Regum.” The motto, in English, is “The Last Argument of Kings.” Two loops shaped like dolphins are attached to the top of the barrel. They were used for raising or lowering the gun to achieve the proper range during firing.

(Submitted on July 13, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Louis XIV "Sun King" Emblem image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 24, 2024

3. Louis XIV "Sun King" Emblem

"Pluribus Nec Impar" atop the emblem. Translation: Not equal to many

French coat of arms image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 24, 2024

4. French coat of arms

Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 253 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.