The Columbiad was a large caliber, muzzle loading cannon able to fire heavy projectiles at high and low trajectories. This characteristic enabled the columbiad to fire solid shot or shell long ranges which made it an protective seacoast defense weapon for its day. Invented by Colonel George Bomford, United States Army, in 1811, columbiads were used by the United States coastal artillery from the War of 1812 until the early years of the 20th Century. Not many columbiads were used outside of the U.S. Army.
