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Dominic Serres - The Capture of Chandernagore, March 1757 RMG BHC0378
Summary
The Capture of Chandernagore, March 1757
Lying ten miles up river from Calcutta, Chandernagore was the administrative centre of the French East India Company. The battle there was one of the many fought between the French and English on the sub-continent during the Seven Years War, 1759-63. It gave the East India Company effective control of Calcutta and the Bengal hinterland. Britain finished the war as the dominant European power in India, and was well-placed to take advantage of the weakening political and economic power of the Moghul Empire. Chandernagore’s capture after a ten-day bombardment by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Clive and Rear-Admiral Watson was the first step in the British driving the French from Bengal. The French who escaped took shelter with the Nawab, whom Clive shortly afterwards defeated at Plassey. This ended the French influence in Bengal.
This painting commemorates the event some 14 years later. It shows Watson’s ships, ‘Kent’, ‘Tiger’ and ‘Salisbury’ firing on the town and fort from an anchored position. The action is close to land and the buildings along the shoreline are clearly identifiable. The leading ship, the ‘Tiger’ is on the right of the picture, and in the centre is the ‘Kent’ with a couple of boats under her stern. It is flying Rear-Admiral Watson’s flag on the foremast and a red flag giving the signal to the ships to engage at the main. Both these ships are firing on the fort and on the far left the ‘Salisbury’ is also firing on the town. The effect of the smoke from the guns and fires can be seen blowing over the land to the right. It is signed and dated ‘D. Serres.1771’.
The Capture of Chandernagore, March 1757
The British East India Company was the first joint-stock corporation to be formed in England, and it eventually became one of the most powerful trading companies in the world, with a virtual monopoly on trade in India and the East Indies. The East India Company or the British East India Company and informally as John Company was an English and later British joint-stock company, which was formed to pursue trade with the East Indies but ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and Qing China. After the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, London merchants presented a petition to Queen Elizabeth I for permission to sail to the Indian Ocean. Permission was granted, and on 10 April 1591 three ships sailed from Torbay around the Cape of Good Hope to the Arabian Sea. On 31 December 1600, the Queen granted a Royal Charter to "George, Earl of Cumberland, and 215 Knights, Aldermen, and Burgesses" under the name, Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading with the East Indies. The governance of the company was in the hands of one governor and 24 directors or "committees", who made up the Court of Directors. They, in turn, reported to the Court of Proprietors, which appointed them. Ten committees reported to the Court of Directors. According to tradition, business was initially transacted at the Nags Head Inn, opposite St Botolph's church in Bishopsgate, before moving to India House in Leadenhall Street. The company played a key role in the spread of British influence in India and the development of the British Empire. However, it also became involved in corruption and exploitation, and it was eventually dissolved in 1858, following the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
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