Launch Of "The Napoleon Iii

Launch of "The Napoleon III", at Ardrossan, 1854. Scene at Barr and Shearer's boatyard on the River Clyde in Scotland. '...the ceremony of naming...was gracefully performed by the Lady Egidia Montgomery...while the ship has great sailing powers she also has large carrying qualities and has been fitted out under the superintendence of her experienced commander, Captain Crawford, with every recent improvement...The figure-head is an excellent representation of the emperor Napoleon III, beautifully designed and executed by Mr Robertson of Liverpool; the owners are Messrs. Peter and Thompson Arkman, of Glasgow and the vessel is intended for the India trade...the inhabitants of the district turned out en masse...when the vessel glided gracefully into the water, the air resounded with the plaudits of the assembled multitude and the firing of cannon...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)