Fort St. George | |
---|---|
Part of Tamil Nadu | |
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | |
![]() Fort St. George, the seat of Government of Tamil Nadu | |
Coordinates | 13°04′47″N 80°17′13″E / 13.079722°N 80.286944°E |
Type | Forts |
Height | 45 m (148 ft)[citation needed] |
Site information | |
Owner | Indian Army |
Controlled by | Government of Tamil Nadu |
Condition | Good |
Site history | |
Built | 1639 |
Built by | British East India Company |
In use | Government of Tamil Nadu |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly–Secretariat |
Fort St. George (or historically, White Town)[1] is a fortress at the coastal city of Chennai, India. Founded in 1639, it was the first English (later British) fortress in India.[2] The construction of the fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally an uninhabited land.[3] Thus, it is a feasible contention to say that the city (formerly named Madras) evolved around the fortress.[4] The fort currently houses the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and other official buildings.