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Other 18th-/19th-century conflicts

Maps, views and documents from 19 wars

JOHN CLEEVE PLEYDELL (1736-1816)

Arcot, 1760

Arcott, Surrender’d Feb:y 10.th 1760

1760 or later

Pencil, black and red ink and watercolour on paper | Scale: 1:2,406 approx. | RCIN 733003

A plan of the fort of Arcot, besieged and taken by the British, commanded by Colonel (later Sir), Eyre Coote (1726-83), between 5 and 10 February 1760. Seven Years War (1756-63): Third Carnatic War (1757-63). Oriented with north-west to top (cardinal points).

The attribution to Pleydell is made on stylistic grounds. This is one of fourteen manuscript plans in the collection by Pleydell of fortifications and/or actions during the Third Carnatic War (1757-63), which was part of the Seven Years War. They were all placed, in Cumberland's original collection, in Volume IV/70/1-14. Their current RCIN numbers are 732125, 732126, 733001-2, 733004-8, 733016.a, 733020, 733027, 733028. It is not known when they were drawn but it must have been sometime before Cumberland's death in 1765. The source material for this set of plans is unknown, however, since some of the scale are given in toises it is possible that he has copied French plans; there is no evidence to suggest that Pleydell ever went to India and, in 1760, he was serving in Germany.

Additional text: [bottom left, in irregularly-shaped panel, a key, A-G, to the fort and town, and positions of batteries, and a short history of the area.]

Condition: no fold lines. Verso: induced discolouration.
  • John Cleeve Pleydell (1736-1816) (draughtsman)

  • Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters L V G below; countermark: IV

    Mark, stamped: 899

    Condition: no fold lines. Verso: induced discolouration

  • Scale: 1:2,406 approx. Scale bar: [114 mm =] 300 y.ds.

    33.7 x 45.7 cm (image and neatline)

    38.1 x 49.4 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    Arcott, Surrender’d Feb:y 10.th 1760. [bottom centre, below border]

    Additional text:

    [bottom left, in irregularly-shaped panel, a key, A-G, to the fort and town, and positions of batteries, and a short history of the area.]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Arcott 5-10 Feb. 1760.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, ink:] IV/70/N:o 5. (Verso) [top right, black pencil: illegible]; [top left, black pencil: some illegible words or numbers].

    George III catalogue entry:

    Arcott A drawn Plan of Arcott attacked by the English Army under the command of Col.l Coote, the 5.th and taken the 10.th of Feb.y 1760.

  • Subject(s)

    Arcot, Tamil Nādu, India (12°54'20"N 79°19'08"E)

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024