Fort St. David

Fort St. David is a historic British fort located near the town of Cuddalore on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu. Originally constructed in the early 17th century by the Dutch but later acquired by the British East India Company from the Marathas in 1690, it became a crucial military and trading outpost for the British in southern India.

Named after the Welsh patron saint by Elihu Yale, the fort served as the British headquarters in South India from the mid-18th century and witnessed several battles between the British and French, notably repelling French sieges under Dupleix. Prominent figures such as Robert Clive governed the fort during key phases in colonial history. After changing hands multiple times amidst Anglo-French conflicts, it remained under British control from 1785 until it was eventually abandoned, falling into ruins.

Situated at the mouth of the Gadilam River, the fort’s strategic location was vital for trade and military operations along the coast, and its remains today stand as a testament to the complex colonial past of the region.