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Chennai - History
Emperor Aurangazeb's general Daud Khan, attacks Fort St George. But the British manage to hold the Fort. The East India Company acquires Tondiarpet. Coja Petrus Uscan constructs the 134 stone steps, which are still used to reach the summit of the 300-feet high St Thomas Mount. Villages on either side of the road to St Thomas Mount are acquired: Nungambakkam, Pudupakkam and Vepery. Also Perambur and Vyasarpadi in the north-west are acquired.
Robert Clive works as a writer at Fort St George. He goes on to become the hero of the Carnatic. The British lose possession of Fort St George to the triumphant French Admiral La Bourdonnais. Through the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle between the French and the British, Fort St George is restored to the British. And Mylapore and San Thome are added to Madras.
The important events during this period were the blockade of Chennai by Daud Khan and its repulsion and the acquisition of additional suburban villages by the English. Thiruvottiyur, Vysarpadi, Kathivakkam, Nungambakkam and Satangadu were made as a free gift to the English in 1708. In 1735, Chintadripet was taken over and in 1742 Vepery, Perambur and Periamet were presented to the British. Nicholas Morse was the Governor from 1744 to 1746.
The most important event during his time was the outbreak of war between England and France and the consequent struggle for supremacy between the French and the English in South India. Chennai was captured by the French in 1744 but consequent on the treaty of peace of Aix-La-Chapelle, Chennai was restored to the English in 1749.
George Pigot was the Governor for the period from 1755 to 1763. The period is remarkable for the fact that the Company form a trading corporation, owning isolated towns, forts and factories, became a ruling power controlling vast territories. Charles Bourchier became Governor in 1767. During his period Hyder Ali who usurped the Sovereignty of Mysore joined hands with the Nizam and began an offensive on Chennai.
In 1761, a treaty was signed between Hyder Ali and the Company for an alliance and mutual restitution of the conquests. The Governance of the Carnatic became the responsibility of the Chennai Government which could not maintain a large army without the revenue of Nawabs. In 1763,the English got the district of Chengalpattu known as Chennai Jagir for the maintenance of the army.Lord Macartney took charge of the Chennai Government in 1781.
During his period, Chennai was turned into an important Naval base. Major General Medows became Governor in 1790. The position of the English was made secure in South India. the elimination of other foreign power and settlement of the limits of native territory gave stability and paved the way for an era of commercial development. In 1792, in a new treaty Mohammed Ali handed over the entire management of the Carnatic to the English and accepted in return a pension. Another important event of this period was the outbreak of Mysore war. Tippu was killed in 1799 and the whole of Carnatic ceded to the British.
Chennai - History
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