The Seven Years War (1756-63)
Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Chandannagar, 1757
Plan of Chandernagore with the Attacks made by the Ships Under the Command of Vice Admiral Watson and that of the Troops Commanded by Colonel / Clive on Shoar Surrender’d March the 23:d 1757
c.1757Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper; some pricking through | Scale: 1:1,000 approx. | RCIN 732007
This action between the French and the British (Hon. East India Company) resulted in a British victory and gave the HEIC control of Calcutta. It was a combined operation of naval bombardment by the Kent commanded by Admiral Watson, and the Tyger under Admiral Brook, and land batteries commanded by Colonel Robert Clive (1725-74). This plan shows the lines of fire into the fortress from the ships and from onshore batteries.
There is no entry for Robert Barker in Conolly under the British, Bengal, or Madras Engineers. It is possible that Barker was an East India Company Engineer or, he had been assigned an engineer's job from the infantry. However, it seems likely, according to Stephens (2004) and Houlsing (2015), that this was the Robert Barker who became Brigadier-General Sir Robert Barker and Provincial Commander-in-Chief, Bengal.
Additional text: [top left, under title, a key, a-i:] References … NB. Each Bastion has Five Guns in Face and three in flank, / besides which they mounted one Gun in Barbet at the / salliant Angles covered with Sand Bags. On the East Curtain was mounted nine small pieces of Cannon covered with Sand Bags / On the East Curtain was mounted nine Small pieces of / Canon covered with Sand Bags, but the Enemy could / not work those Guns on account of the Musketry, from / on top the Houses at K which raked that / Curtain. [Right, another key, 1-7:] References.
Condition: six fold lines; small tears to bottom and right edges; two tears repaired on verso with thin paper strips; surface dirt on both sides.
Robert Barker (1729?-1789) (surveyor and draughtsman) [bottom left, inside neatline:] Survey’d and Drawn by Rob:t Barker, Engineer.
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters L V G below
Mark, stamped: 804
Condition: six fold lines; small tears to bottom and right edges; two tears repaired on verso with thin paper strips; surface dirt on both sides
Scale: 1:1,000 approx. Scale bar: Scale of 500 Feet [153 mm =].
34.8 x 52.7 cm (neatline)
35.5 x 53.2 cm (image)
36.0 x 53.5 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
Plan of Chandernagore with the Attacks made by the Ships Under the Command of Vice Admiral Watson and that of the Troops Commanded by Colonel / Clive on Shoar Surrender’d March the 23:d 1757. [across top of map, inside neatline]
Additional text:
[top left, under title, a key, a-i:] References … NB. Each Bastion has Five Guns in Face and three in flank, / besides which they mounted one Gun in Barbet at the / salliant Angles covered with Sand Bags. On the East Curtain was mounted nine small pieces of Cannon covered with Sand Bags / On the East Curtain was mounted nine Small pieces of / Canon covered with Sand Bags, but the Enemy could / not work those Guns on account of the Musketry, from / on top the Houses at K which raked that / Curtain. [Right, another key, 1-7:] References.
Annotations:
George III heading: Chandernagore 23 March 1757.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top left, red pencil:] 13/6; [top left, black pencil:] XV/50; [right, ink:] No 16; [right, red pencil:] 1757.
George III catalogue entry:
Chandernagore A drawn Plan of Chandernagore, with the attacks made by the Ships under the command of Admiral Watson, and that of the Troops commanded by Colonel Clive, surrendered the 23.d March 1757: by R. Barker Eng.r
Subject(s)
Chandannagar, Bengal, India (22°52'09"N 88°22'38"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
T. W. J. Conolly, R.E; R.F. Edwards (Ed), Roll of officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers. From 1660-1898. Compiled from the MS rolls of the late Captain T. W. J. Conolly, R. E., and brought up to date in the office of the R. E. Institute, Chatham. Chatham 1898.
H.M. Stephens and G.J. Bryant, (rev.) ‘Barker, Sir Robert, baronet (c. 1732-1789)’. Dictionary of National Biography, 2004 Published in print: 23 September 2004 Published online: 23 September 2004
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
