Fort St George In The Mid 19th-Century Madras, 1860 Print
This 1860 engraved print shows a 19th-century Fort St George in British-era Madras (Chennai). One of India’s most historically significant colonial landmarks. Established in 1640 by the English East India Company, the fort marked the beginning of British rule in southern India. Eventually growing into the nucleus around which the city of Madras developed.
Before relocating to Madraspatnam (as Madras was formerly called), the Company’s trading operations were based at Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam). But the move was encouraged by the Naik (Nayak) of Chingleput to gain easier access to the region’s highly prized muslin and calico textiles. Company representatives Francis Day and Andrew Cogan selected the coastal site, where they built a warehouse protected by a fortified enclosure that became Fort St George, named after England’s patron saint.
The engraving portrays the imposing sea-facing fort during the early 19th century, when it served as the administrative and military headquarters of the East India Company in southern India. Beyond its architectural beauty, the print offers a valuable glimpse into the early history of Chennai and the origins of one of India’s earliest surviving British forts. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know- Fort St George transformed into at least eight distinct phases, spanning from 1653 to 1939.
