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The siege of Chingleput (9-13 October 1752) was the second of two victories won by Robert Clive during what he described as his ‘Glorious Campaign’, and saw him take the strong fort at Chingleput after a bombardment of four days (Second Carnatic War).
The campaign began when Mohammed Ali, the British supported candidate for the post of Nawab of the Carnatic asked the British to capture the forts of Covelung, on the coast south of Madras, and Chingleput, about thirty miles to the west. Robert Clive was given a force of 200 Europeans and 500 Sepoys, but all of them were raw recruits.
Covelung fell after a brief siege in mid-September. On the day after the fort surrendered M. St Germain, the French commander of Chingleput, was captured when Clive ambushed a relief column heading for Covelung. In the aftermath of this first victory, Clive decided to march inland and try and capture Chingleput when the remaining members of the garrison were demoralised.
This should not have been an easy task – Chingleput was a well-designed Indian fort, garrisoned by 40 Europeans and 500 Sepoys, with 15 guns. Perhaps luckily for Clive St. Germain’s successor was not determined to hold out. After four days of bombardment the British created a minor breach in the walls, and the governor offered to surrender on terms. Clive agreed, and on 13 October the garrison marched out with honours of war. Soon after this ill health forced Clive to return to Britain, and the British position in southern India soon deteriorated, with Trichinopoly coming under siege for a second time.