Towering over Place de Barentin, steps from the Grosse Horloge and the Old Port, this imposing bronze statue honours Victor Guy, Baron Duperré (1775–1846), a son of La Rochelle who rose to become admiral and later Minister of the Navy and Colonies. Unveiled on 17 October 1869 in the presence of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, sent by Napoleon III, the monument is the work of sculptor Pierre Hébert and founder Thiébaut. Cast from the bronze of cannons seized from the Dey of Algiers, Duperré's figure stands on a tall pedestal, spyglass in hand and sword at his side, a ship's anchor at his feet. With his back to the sea, he gazes upon his native city. Two bas-reliefs by Émile Hébert adorn the base: the young Duperré embarking as a cabin boy at sixteen aboard the Henri IV, and the presentation of the honorary sword bestowed by La Rochelle after the capture of Algiers.
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