David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Note 2
2. CARRON IRON WORKS AND CLYDE IRON WORKS
The famous works of the Carron Company were founded by Mr. Cadell and Dr. John Roebuck in 1759, and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1773. "Carronades," taking their appellation from the works, were first made there in 1779, some of them being used on board British ships that year against the French. The Clyde Iron Works, three miles east from Glasgow, were started about 1786, and it is recorded that during the years 1798-99, "almost the entire produce of these works was cast into cannon and other artillery equipments." At this time five blast furnaces were kept in constant employment, producing 200 tons of pig-iron per day. It was at these works that Neilson's hot-blast process was first introduced. The mortars, cannon, and carronades were tested by "powder proof," and by hydraulic pressure. The series of wars in which Britain was engaged during the latter part of the eighteenth century and early years of the nineteenth taxed the resources of the War Department severely, and called for the assistance of such iron works and engineering factories as could aid in the production of ordnance and other war material.
A drawing of date 1795 is preserved at the Clyde Iron Works of a 32-pounder cannon of the period. Its length was 3 feet 9 inches, bore about 6i inches, and weight 17 cwts. If, as appears probable, the cannon on which John Napier was employed were of similar size, the work of boring them out accurately, in view of the imperfect tools then available, suggests a favourable opinion of his machinery, and of the confidence placed in his skill and care. As no railway or steamboat facilities existed, the labour and cost involved in carting such heavy articles from the Clyde Iron Works to Dumbarton must have been great, and doubtless this, and the desire for a wider field, together with the necessity for being nearer the sources of coal and iron, induced Napier to remove to Glasgow.
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