Tamil Nadu in the 1850s
21 events, 1850 to 1858; 5 marked as turning points.
1850
Surgeon Alexander Hunter founded a private art school in Madras, today's Government College of Fine Arts.
1851
Government Museum, Madras founded
Built on collections donated by the Madras Literary Society, the Madras Government Museum, India's second oldest, was founded.
Ayyavazhi tradition records that Ayya Vaikundar's earthly mission ended on 2 June 1851.
1852
Wellington cantonment established in the Nilgiris
The military station of Jakkatalla in the Nilgiris was renamed Wellington and construction of its barracks began.
Madras Native Association founded
One of India's earliest Indian political bodies, the Madras Native Association, was set up by Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty.
1853
Railway construction begins at Royapuram
Work on South India's first main railway line, from Madras towards Arcot, began at Royapuram in 1853.
Madras Native Association petition read in the House of Lords
The Earl of Ellenborough read the Madras Native Association's catalogue of grievances in the House of Lords.
1854
Charles Wood's education despatch called for universities in the presidency towns and a graded school system across India.
Imperial Hotel opens in Madras
The Imperial Hotel, later the Connemara, opened in 1854 and is the oldest functioning hotel in Chennai.
Madras Torture Commission appointed
A commission was appointed to investigate the torture of ryots by revenue officials in the Madras Presidency.
Provincial School opens at Kumbakonam
A government Provincial School opened at Kumbakonam, later the Government Arts College known as the Cambridge of South India.
1855
Madras Zoo begins at the Government Museum
Edward Balfour started a zoological park in the Government Museum premises, the origin of today's Vandalur zoo.
Birth of U. V. Swaminatha Iyer
U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, later famed for recovering and printing many lost classical Tamil texts, was born near Kumbakonam.
Carnatic Nawabship abolished under the Doctrine of Lapse
On the death of the last Nawab, Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan, the Company abolished the Carnatic Nawabship.
Thanjavur annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse
After Raja Shivaji died without a male heir, the Company annexed the titular Maratha principality of Thanjavur.
1856
Caldwell's Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian languages
With his Comparative Grammar, Robert Caldwell showed that the Dravidian languages make up a separate language family.
First train in South India, Royapuram to Wallajah Road
The Madras Railway opened South India's first railway line, from Royapuram in Madras to Wallajah Road near Arcot.
1857
An act of the Legislative Council incorporated the University of Madras, among the first three modern universities in India.
1858
University of Madras holds its first B.A. examination
The University of Madras, founded in 1857, conducted its first Bachelor of Arts examination; C. W. Damodaram Pillai was among its first candidates.
Lawrence Asylum founded at Lovedale in the Nilgiris
A Lawrence military asylum for the children of British soldiers opened at Lovedale near Ooty; it became the Lawrence School.
Crown takes over the government of India
Following the Government of India Act 1858, a proclamation by Queen Victoria declared direct Crown rule over British India, the Madras Presidency included.
