Tamil Nadu in the 1800s
18 events, 1800 to 1806; 4 marked as turning points.
1800
One year after Kattabomman was executed, a broad coalition of Tamil palayakkarars and their allies revolted against the East India Company.
Pudukkottai comes under Company protection
Through a subsidiary alliance, the Tondaiman state of Pudukkottai came under the protection of the East India Company.
1801
Jambudweep proclamation of the Maruthu brothers
The Maruthu brothers issued a proclamation calling on all people of the peninsula, whatever their religion, to fight the British.
After a lengthy siege and heavy shelling, Colonel Agnew's Company troops took the rebuilt fort of Panchalankurichi.
Carnatic Treaty transfers the Carnatic to the Company
Nawab Azim-ud-Daula signed the Carnatic Treaty, handing the civil and military administration of the Carnatic to the East India Company.
Execution of the Maruthu brothers
Periya Marudhu and Chinna Marudhu, rulers of Sivaganga and leaders of the 1800-01 rising, were hanged at Tiruppathur fort.
Oomaithurai, brother of Kattabomman, was captured and hanged at Panchalankurichi with Sevathaiah, ending the Second Polygar War.
1802
Permanent Settlement extended to Madras Presidency
The zamindari Permanent Settlement, first applied in Bengal, was introduced in parts of the Madras Presidency.
Astronomer John Goldingham of the Madras Observatory fixed Madras time at 5 hours 21 minutes ahead of Greenwich.
Great Trigonometrical Survey begins at Madras
Measuring a baseline close to Madras, William Lambton set the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India in motion.
1803
Sivaganga settled on Gowri Vallaba Thevar
After the Maruthu brothers were executed, Sivaganga was settled in 1803 as a permanent estate on Gowri Vallaba Thevar.
1804
Village Settlement revenue experiment
A Village Settlement system of land revenue was tried in several Tamil districts before ryotwari became the norm.
Company engineers begin remodelling the Grand Anicut
Captain Caldwell was appointed in 1804 to study the Kaveri and raised the ancient Grand Anicut to send more water to the delta.
Coimbatore district formed with Coimbatore as its capital
Coimbatore district was formed by the Company, with Coimbatore town as its headquarters.
1805
Execution of Dheeran Chinnamalai
Dheeran Chinnamalai, a Kongu chieftain who fought the Company for several years, was hanged at Sankagiri Fort.
Serfoji II sets up a Devanagari press at Thanjavur
At Thanjavur, Serfoji II founded the Nava Vidya Kalasala press, the first in South India to print Devanagari.
1806
First segment of the Buckingham Canal opens
In 1806 a saltwater canal linking Madras with Ennore was finished; it would later form part of the Buckingham Canal.
Indian sepoys of the Madras Army rose against the East India Company at Vellore Fort over new dress regulations.
