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Chennai - History
Rajaji Hall is built. Originally intended to be a Banquet Hall, the architecture of the building shows strong Greek-temple styling. St George's Cathedral is completed. This cathedral has a 140 feet high spire. The road on which this cathedral stands is called - The Cathedral Road. St Andrew's Kirk, Egmore, is consecrated. The 170-feet spire of this church surmounts a circular nave and a dome that rests on 16 ionic pillars. The Agri-Horticultural Society is established.
Till recently, the city's annual flower show was held at this venue. Presidency College begins. This initially started as a preparatory school.Then it bacame the city's first college. Librarian Abel Joshua Higginbotham establishes Higginbothams. This chain of bookshops is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the largest network of bookshops in the country. Peter Orr starts P. Orr and Sons, which has been the city's traditional timekeeper for decades. This showroom and the three-faced clock tower, built in 1873, are city landmarks even today.
Thus the supremacy of the English in South India was established. The present day territorial limits of the city existed in the shape of scattered villages for centuries before the advent of the British. In the process of growth, many villages got agglomerated into a single unit. The shape and extent of the city which existed during 1939-40 was reached even during the opening years of 19th century. The period in between 1803 to 1827 represents consolidation and development of institutions.
Sir Edward Elliot was the important Governor of Chennai during this period. He appointed a Judicial Commission with Munro as its President in 1814. Several reforms in the administrative system were made by the Commission. Sir Thomas Munro became the Governor in 1820 and continued till 1827. He tried his best to improve literacy. He initiated English education in Chennai and established a body called Board of Public Instructions to improve and direct public education. Important improvement made to Chennai city during the first half of the 19th century was the progress made in the establishment of institutions for professional and technical education.
School of Industrial Art was started in 1850, Civil Engineering College in 1834 and Madras Medical College in 1835,etc. The Madras University was started in September 1857. The Chennai High Court was created in June 1862. The Railway Company in Chennai was formed in July 1845. the first construction work began on 9th June 1853 and in 1858,South Indian Railway was formed having Chennai as the Railway Headquarters. Lord Hobart who was the Governor from 1872 to 1875 initiated Chennai Harbour project. The Congress party came to life during the period 1881-90. The Indian National Congress held its session in 1887 at Chennai.
Chennai - History
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