Loss of Calcutta 1756
| Loss of Calcutta 1756 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 3rd Carnatic War Seven Years War | ||
| Date: | 20 June 1756 | |
| Location: | Calcutta | |
| Presidency: | Bengal Presidency | |
| Co-ordinates: | 22.550293°N 88.339805°E | |
| Result: | British defeat | |
| Combatants | ||
| British East India Company | Mughal Empire | |
| Commanders | ||
| Governor Roger Drake Captain Minchen John Holwell |
Suraj-ud-Daulah | |
| Strength | ||
| 200 garrison | 50,000 | |
| Casualties | ||
This was an event during the 3rd Carnatic War
Summary
After the Surrender of Kossimbazar Siraj ud Daulah advanced towards Calcutta which he reached on 16 June and drove in the British outposts. Attempts were made to evacuate women and children but panic overtook the defenders. Governor Drake, Captain Minchen and a large portion of the militia fled on board the vessels in the Hughli. With a garrison of only 200 the fort was overwhelmed. Though Siraj ud Daulah promised no harm would come to the 146 prisoners, they were packed into a small space where many of them suffocated overnight. John Holwell's account of the Black Hole of Calcutta has been challenged. The facts will probably never be established.
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography
Roger Drake
John Holwell (1711-98)
Suraj-ud Daulah (1731-57)
FIBIS resources
Articles in the FIBIS Journal:
- "Some Facts about the Black Hole of Calcutta" Tony Fuller, FIBIS Journal 1
- "The Black Hole of Calcutta, Part 2" Tony Fuller, FIBIS Journal 2
Members can read these articles online when they log in to the FIBIS database.
External Links
Heritage History - Carnatic Wars Heritage History
3rd Carnatic War Wikipedia
Loss of Calcutta Google Books
Siraj Ud Daulah expedition against Calcutta www.kronoskaf.com
Black Hole of Calcutta Wikipedia
Black Hole of Calcutta - Holwell's account Google Books
Names of victims on monument in St John's Church archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Kolkata, West Bengal Wikipedia