UPSC Prelims 2007 Q62: Modern History – Advent Of Europeans & British Expansion
Which one of the following was the first fort constructed by the British in India?
- (a) Fort William
- (b) Fort St. George
- (c) Fort St. David
- (d) Fort St. Angelo
Answer: (b) Fort St. George
Explanation
First British fort in India — Fort St. George
| Fort | Year | Built by | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort St. George | 1644 (begun 1639-40) | English — Francis Day & Andrew Cogan | Madras (Chennai) |
| Fort St. David | 1690s | English | Cuddalore |
| Fort William | 1696-1702 | English | Calcutta |
| Fort St. Angelo | 1505 | Portuguese | Kannur (Kerala) |
Fort St. George was the first English fortress in India.
Today it houses the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Secretariat.
The land was granted by the local Nayak under the Vijayanagara ruler.
Answer: (b) Fort St. George.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Fort William (Calcutta) was built around 1696-1702 — much later.
- (b) CORRECT. Fort St. George, Madras (1644) was the first fort built by the British in India.
- (c) Incorrect. Fort St. David (Cuddalore) came in the 1690s.
- (d) Incorrect. Fort St. Angelo (Kannur) was built by the Portuguese in 1505.
Key point
Fort St. George (Madras, 1644) = first British fort; now seat of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Remember
First British fort in India = Fort St. George, Madras.
Common mistakes
- Picking Fort William because Calcutta became the capital. It came half a century later.
- Treating Fort St. Angelo as British — it is Portuguese (Kannur, 1505).
- Confusing factory (trading post, Surat 1613) with fort (Madras 1644).
Exam tip
English firsts: factory = Surat (1613); fort = Fort St. George, Madras (1644).
Sources
- NCERT Class VIII — Our Pasts III, Ch 2
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India, Ch 2
- Archaeological Survey of India — Fort St. George