The history of Chennai stands tall with this Fort St George, serving as the seating power of Tamil Nadu Government till recent times. Back in the 17th century, the trade war between French and English was at its peak in Chennai. To strengthen their supremacy, the English needed a construction. In 1639, Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, representatives of the British East India Company, went to purchase a strip of land on the Marina coast from the existing Nayakar rulers. The fort was successfully built and named after the famous patron saint of England ‘St George’.
The construction of the fort was finally completed in 1644. Built as a small trade post, it soon burgeoned into a bustling city that was divided into White Town and Black Town. Former was the place where the English and Europeans stayed and the latter, where dock workers and locals lived. This historic building displays antiques in ten galleries stretched over three floors. An imposing marble statue of Lord Cornwallis (1738-1805) carved by Thomas Banks, welcomes the visitors. This statue, that depicts the scene of surrender of two sons of Tipu Sultan as hostages to the British, was sponsored by the funds collected from the public.
The museum also contains various weapons like rifles and pistols, mortars, petard, cannon shots, breastplates, swords, daggers, helmets, batons etc. It also displays pieces of shells fired during the World Wars. On the sum, everything related to the army is displayed in this museum. You can find the uniforms of various ranks of the British Army, the ceremonial dresses of Madras Governor's Bodyguards and the Under Secretary of Madras Government, cushions used in the official investiture ceremony, 64 medals and medallions issued by the British Government for honoring its soldiers in various battles and also regimental colors of various units.
A separate gallery is allocated where various portraits and oil paintings of George III and his consort, Queen Victoria, Robert Clive, Sir Arthur Havelock are found. Other sections of the Fort Museum include silverware from the St. Mary's Church, and Zion Church, Indo-French Gallery, Coin Gallery and also a reserve collection including the first marriage register of the St. Mary's Church recording the marriage of Robert Clive. Within its 20 feet walls, the British constructed several structures such as the Wellesley House, which was named after one former Governor General of India Richard Wellesley, St. Mary's Church, a 150 feet high Flagstaff.