 First Consul Bonaparte wanted to turn Cherbourg into a major military port, for the invasion of the United Kingdom.He charged Joseph Cachin with the resumption of the work of the sea wall, the digging of military outer harbour, and the construction of the new arsenal.After a visit in 1811, Napoleon made Cherbourg a maritime prefecture, a "chef-lieu" of the Arrondissements of the Manche department and the seat of a court of first instance.