General Claude Martin. 1794, published in Lucknow. The plate was drawn by Renaldi and engraved by L. Legoux

Major General Claude Martin (January 4, 1735 - September 13, 1800) was an officer in the French, and later the British, army in India. He rose to the position of Major General in the English East India Company. Born at Lyon, France with an humble background, he was a self-made man who has left a substantial lasting legacy in the form of his writings, buildings and the educational institutions he created. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (496x643, 57 KB) Summary General Claude Martin. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (496x643, 57 KB) Summary General Claude Martin. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events April 16 - The London premiere of Alcina by George Frideric Handel, his first the first Italian opera for the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total 130... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: (Franco-Provençal: Forward, forward, Lyon the best) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country Region Rhône-Alpes Department Rhône (69) Subdivisions 9 arrondissements Intercommunality Urban Community of Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb  (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land...

Claude Martin has been an interesting and complex personality both for his contemporaries and the latter day analysts, writers and historians.

Martin was an unorthodox, innovative, multi-faceted and incredibly successful man of eighteenth-century India which is a testimony to his skills of survival.

Martin is possibly now one of the most remembered European travellers ever to have arrived in India; he has seven schools named after him, two in Lucknow, two in Calcutta and three in Lyon and the small village of Martin Purwa. In her biography of this endearing rogue, titled "A Very Ingenious Man", Rosie Llewellyn Jones, also the author of two absorbing books about Nawabi Lucknow, depicts Martin as a shrewd adventurer with his eye always on the main chance. He seems to have been an engaging scoundrel with a touch of Leonardo da Vinci about him,^[1] a mercenary and freebooter who contributed culturally and architecturally to the making of modern Lucknow. Martin Purwa is a small village near Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. ... The Mona Lisa Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian polymath: scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, and writer. ...

Career

Martin's family were middle class and they had businesses in mustard, vinegar and brandy. However, Martin chose to go into the silk yarn business. This decision did not go down well with his family. His mother is reported to have said that he should not return from enlisting as a soldier until he was "in a carriage".^[1] While in school, Martin showed a special interest in mathematics and science. At the age of 16, he enlisted in the French army, was posted to India in 1751 serving under Commander and Governor Joseph François Dupleix and General Thomas Arthur Lally in the Carnatic wars against the British East India Company. When the French lost their colony of Pondicherry in 1761, he accepted service in the Bengal army of the British East India Company in 1763, ultimately rising to the rank of Major General. Euclid, Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, as imagined by by Raphael in this detail from The School of Athens. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Events Adam Smith is appointed professor of logic at the University of Glasgow March 25 - For the last time, New Years Day is legally on March 25 in England and Wales. ... Joseph François Dupleix // Joseph François Dupleix (January 1, 1697 — November 10, 1763) was governor general of the French establishment in India, and was the great rival of Robert Clive. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally, baron de Tollendal (January, 1702 - 1766), French general, was born at Romans, Dauphin, being the son of Sir Gerard OLally, an Irish Jacobite who married a French lady of noble family, from whom the son inherited his titles. ... Carnatic may mean: Carnatic, a region of Southern India Carnatic music SS Carnatic, a shipwrecked steamer This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... Map of Pondicherry Region, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India Pondicherry (Tamil:புதுவை,Hindi: पॉण्डिचेरी) is a Union Territory of India. ... 1761 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Bengal (Bengali: বঙ্গ Bôngo, বাংলা Bangla, বঙ্গদেশ Bôngodesh or বাংলাদেশ Bangladesh), is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Fort William

He was initially employed at the then-new Fort William in Calcutta, Bengal (now, West Bengal), and afterwards on the survey of Bengal under the English Surveyor General James Rennell. In 1776, Martin was allowed to accept the appointment of Superintendent of the Arsenal for the Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula at Lucknow, retaining his rank but being ultimately placed on half pay. He resided in Lucknow from 1776 until his death. It may be that the French Revolution prevented him from returning "in a carriage"^[1]. His friend Antoine Polier gave up his Muslim wives and children to live in a French chateau and was stabbed in the terror. However, Martin never gave up his nationality and died a French national. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Fort William is a British Raj fort in the Indian city of Calcutta and was named after King William of Orange. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... Bengal (Bengali: বঙ্গ Bôngo, বাংলা Bangla, বঙ্গদেশ Bôngodesh or বাংলাদেশ Bangladesh), is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. ... , West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... James Rennell (December 3, 1742 - March 29, 1830) was a British geographer. ... Year 1776 (MDCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Location of Awadh Awadh (Devanagari अवध) (also known in various British historical texts as Oudh, Oundh or Oude) is a region in the center of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before Independence known as the United Provinces of Oudh and Agra. ... Asaf-ud-Daula was the fourth nawab wazir of Awadh. ... The Chhota Imambara in Lucknow , Lucknow ( , Hindi: लखनऊ, Urdu: لکھنؤ, ) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. ... Colonel Antoine-Louis Henri Polier (1741-1795) was a Swiss or French adventurer, art collector, military engineer and soldier who made his fortune in India in the eighteenth century. ...

Claude Martin's different facets

As soldier

Martin began his career as a dragoon and remained essentially a soldier throughout his life , a fighter and a strategist which explains his extraordinary success in life in spite of tremendous odds. French dragoon, 1745. ...

French dragoon, 1745.

Beginning with the French East India Company he was quick to realise the changing power dynamics and chose to build his army career with the British East India Company. He was recognized for his military talents and got important experience in various military encounters. His administrative acumen was also well known and it was his reputation that made Shuja-ud-daulah the Nawab of Awadh to request for his services at Lucknow. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (322x630, 112 KB)French dragoon, 1745 by Velimir Vuksic. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (322x630, 112 KB)French dragoon, 1745 by Velimir Vuksic. ...

His service with the Nawab as well his return to military action during the attack on Tipu at Seringpatnam shows that his military prowess remained intact even in his later years. He was promoted to the ranks of Colonel ( in 1793) and Major General( in 1795) as a special case, since the foreign soldiers in the East India Company were allowed to rise to the rank of Major only. Tipu sultans summer palace Tipu Sultan, also known as Tipu Sahib (December 10, 1750, Devanhalli - May 4, 1799) was ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1782, and one of the primary native sources of resistance to the establishment of British rule in India. ...

As builder

Farud Baksh

Coming from Lyon, Martin must have acquired an eye for imposing architecture from his childhood days in his beautiful home town. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

His architectual skills were much in demand at Lucknow and his nearness to Nawab Asaf-ud-daula gave him a unique opportunity to participate in the making of modern Lucknow. Martin moved to Lucknow almost at the same time when Asaf-ud-daula shifted the Capital to Lucknow. Asaf-ud-daulah and Claude Martin became chief architects of the city of Lucknow. Raj Bhavan (Hindi for 'Government House') is the official residence of the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Raj Bhavan used to be called Kothi Hayat Baksh. Major General Claude Martin drew the layout of the building in 1798 after Nawab Asaf-ud-daula, the East India Company made Sadaat Ali Khan its new ruler. The new ruler liked the buildings designed by Claude Martin. The contract for the construction of Kothi was undertaken by Martin as requested by Saadar Ali Khan.^{[citation needed]} Asaf-ud-Daula was the fourth nawab wazir of Awadh. ... The Chhota Imambara in Lucknow , Lucknow ( , Hindi: लखनऊ, Urdu: لکھنؤ, ) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. ... Raj Bhavan is the name of the official residence of the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, as in other states of India. ... Hindi ( , Devanagari: or , IAST: , IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is the official language of the Union along with English. ... // An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside. ... Governors of Uttar Pradesh See Also Uttar Pradesh Governors of India Links Categories: India-related stubs | Uttar Pradesh | Indian politicians | Office-holders | Government of India ...

Some of the buildings of Lucknow which have Martin's distinctive touch are: Farhad Baksh, Asafi Kothi, Bibiapur, Barowen and of course the Constantia. La Martinière College is a private school located in Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. ...

Most of Martin's buildings were unique and were copied extensively by other designers keeping in mind their defence against military attack.

As collector and connoiseur

While serving under the Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah of Awadh, Martin acquired a massive fortune of about Rs 40,000,00. He built the palace of Constantia and his fine house of Farud Baksh, both of which he equipped with luxuries that included a library of some 4,000 volumes written in many languages and a picture gallery containing a fine collection of works of art. At his death, Claude's collection included over 650 paintings of birds which were painted by Mughal-trained painters.^[2] Asaf-Ud-Dowlah was the nawab wazir of Oudh from 1775 to 1797, and the son of Shuja-ud-Dowlah, his mother and grandmother being the begums of Oudh, whose spoliation formed one of the chief counts in the charges against Warren Hastings. ... Location of Awadh Awadh (Devanagari अवध) (also known in various British historical texts as Oudh, Oundh or Oude) is a region in the center of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before Independence known as the United Provinces of Oudh and Agra. ... It has been suggested that History of the rupee be merged into this article or section. ...

Colonel Antoine Polier, a Swiss engineer and architect, Claude Martin, John Wombwell, assay master, and Zoffany painting surrounded by servants and Polier's art collection.

Martin's love of art can be seen not only in his acquisition of art, but also in the design of his houses, his friendship with noted artists like Renaldi, Hodges^[3] and Zoffany (who included him in at least two paintings).^[2] In a number of cases he used local artists to create work in the style of European artists. His walls were decorated with Wedgewood in the neo-Greek style, his paintings were by Mughal-trained artists and the statues above his palace were mostly clever reproductions in the style of two European statues. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Colonel Antoine-Louis Henri Polier (1741-1795) was a Swiss or French adventurer, art collector, military engineer and soldier who made his fortune in India in the eighteenth century. ... Johann Zoffany (1733, Frankfurt - November 11, 1810, Strand-on-the-Green) was a German-born portrait painter who in late 18th-century England made his reputation with paintings depicting episodes from contemporary theatre and with portraits and conversation pieces (i. ... Hodges painting of HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure in Matavai Bay, Tahiti William Hodges (October 28, 1744 - March 6, 1797) was a British painter. ... Johann Zoffany (1733, Frankfurt - November 11, 1810, Strand-on-the-Green) was a German-born portrait painter who in late 18th-century England made his reputation with paintings depicting episodes from contemporary theatre and with portraits and conversation pieces (i. ... Kutani Crane by Wedgwood Kutani Crane by Wedgwood (back) Wedgwood is a British pottery firm, originally founded by Josiah Wedgwood, and possibly the most famous name ever associated with pottery in any form, which in 1987 merged with Waterford Crystal to become Waterford Wedgwood. ...

Later Martin's life was mired in controversy as he had kept two wives of Colonel, ^[4] after Polier had departed from India. It is obvious however that he cared for his favourite mistress Boulone, and she is the subject of a painting by Renaldi in 1795 which is still at La Martiniere Boys' School in Lucknow today.

Renaldi is possibly the sculptor for a copper and silver medal (30 mm. in diameter) issued by Nawab Asaf-uddula which bears Martin's image and his motto. On the reverse side it says in Persian:

"Most excellent in government, Sword of the Realm, Supreme amongst Knights, General Claude Martin the Brave, Courageous in War. 1796- 1797."^[5]

All the furnishings and treasures of Constantia, as well as those from Martin’s first Lucknow house, the Farhat Buksh, were auctioned on his death, as he had requested. The great chandeliers were bought for the Government House (now Raj Bhawan) in Calcutta, where they still hang, but the majority of his collection was dispersed to private buyers.

As nabob

Martin's stay in Lucknow was the best period in his life. He was part of the ruling coterie, he was in charge of the state arsenal, he was designing and constructing buildings and he was acquiring wealth from his multiple talents. He invested his money wisely and was soon the owner of vast tracts of land.^{[citation needed]}

Colonel Mordaunt's Cock Match

This favourable set of circumstances catapulted Martin into the upper crust of Lucknow and he had to conform to the social mores of a contemporary society. Given his unconventional views (as revealed in his Will) this transition must have been not too difficult. He most probably enjoyed his role as a Nabob. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

He gave regular parties for the British as well as the Nawabi aristocracy and participated with gusto in the social and cultural activities of Lucknow.

He had a city residence and a country palace. For maintenance, he had a retinue of staff. Although he never married, he did have close and long relationships with mistresses which was the norm in that feudal era. Hanging over the mantelpiece in the Blue Room of La Martiniere is a small, gilt framed painting of a young Indian woman and a European boy. Both are dressed in 18th century Indian costume, and the woman is holding a fishing rod. Her name was Boulone and she was Claude Martin’s mistress, although 30 years younger than him. Like James Zulphikar, the little boy in the picture, she had been adopted as a child by Martin. According to him they lived happily enough together, but there must have been bitter arguments when he introduced other, and younger, mistresses into the household. Nevertheless, he made sure that Boulone would be well provided for after his death, and he thoughtfully built a little Muslim tomb for her in the grounds of La Martiniere. It is here that a few rupees are given out once a month to poor people in Lucknow, as Martin had provided in his will.

As banker and businessman

Claude Martin was indeed a versatile person whose financial skills were well known. He never ran after money, he made it come to him. Martin used to lend money even to the Nawab of Awadh and part of his immense fortune came from the bank he started at Lucknow^[6] Martin also started a cannon foundry, introduced a Dutch method of cutting diamonds he made gunpowder and coined rupees.^[6]

As self-surgeon

Apart from being a self-made man, Martin was an amateur scientist and a doctor of sorts. He seems to have suffered from stones in his urinary tract and despite excruciating suffering, he successfully attempted a primitive form of lithotripsy (breaking stones via a waxed-wire insertion up the urethra). Martin managed to publish an account of this amazing self-surgery in London's medical circles and, notwithstanding initial scepticism among bladder surgeons, it appears to have been accepted as the first recorded operation of this kind.

As hot air balloonist

First public demonstration in Annonay,France in 1783

Claude Martin's wide interests included hot air balloons and he was instrumental in introducing a montgolfier to the Nawab and aristocracy of Lucknow in 1785 less than two years after its flight in France. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 410 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (972 × 1422 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 410 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (972 × 1422 pixel, file size: 1. ... Annonay is a town and commune in the Ardèche département of France in the Rhône-Alpes region. ... The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph Michel Montgolfier (August 26, 1740 – June 26, 1810) and Jacques Étienne Montgolfier (January 6, 1745 – August 2, 1799), inventors of the montgolfière hot air balloon. ...

Allan Sealy in his historic novel Trotter-nama^[7] features this aspect of Claude Martin. Irwin Allan Sealy is a writer born in 1951 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. ...

As indigo farmer

Martin was quick to realize the importance of indigo farming and invested in this profitable enterprise in several parts of North India.

As philanthropist

Martin was a charitable person and philanthropist by heart as is reflected from the following excerpts from his last will and testament:

"I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand rupees for to be placed at Interest in the most secure manner possible in the East India Company or Government papers bearing interest and that interest to be employed for the poor first having divided this Interest in three portions or parts one - for the relief of the poor of Lucknow of any religion - for the poor of Calcutta-for the relief of the Poor of Chandernaggur".

As educationist

Of all the European adventurers, Claude Martin is singular in that he left the greater part of his wealth to a variety of charities. Being almost entirely self-educated, he realised the value of formalised education and Martin willed a major part of his fortune to the creation of three institutions of learning in Calcutta, Lucknow and in his birth town of Lyon in France which are all named La Martiniere College. All the schools are flourishing today and have produced numerous worthy global citizens who epitomise the enduring legacy of this remarkable man. , “Calcutta” redirects here. ... The Chhota Imambara in Lucknow , Lucknow ( , Hindi: लखनऊ, Urdu: لکھنؤ, ) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: (Franco-Provençal: Forward, forward, Lyon the best) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country Region Rhône-Alpes Department Rhône (69) Subdivisions 9 arrondissements Intercommunality Urban Community of Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb  (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land... La Martiniere College is one of the oldest, most prestigious, and most competitive Christian non-denominational Kindergarten - Class 12 schools in India and France. ...

Epitaph

According to his last wishes, he was buried in the vault specially prepared for his remains in the basement of Constantia in Lucknow

Major-General Claude Martin.
Arrived in India as a common soldier and
died at Lucknow on the 13th of September, 1800, as a Major-General.
He is buried in this tomb.
Pray for his soul."[6] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 657 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) own work I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 657 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) own work I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Encyclopædia Britannica, the eleventh edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Standard Book Number, or ISBN (sometimes pronounced is-ben), is a unique[1] identifier for books, intended to be used commercially. ...

See also

Wikisource has original works written by or about:

Claude Martin

• The will of Claude Martin
• La Martiniere College
• La Martiniere Calcutta
• La Martiniere Lucknow
• La Martiniere Lyon
• Martinians
• Martin Purwa
• Claude Martin Wade - A Colonel named after Claude Martin