2017-01-16 Mon

The British captured Pondicherry on 16th January 1761 and the last French stronghold in southern India went into the hands of the British.

The 1760–1761 Siege of Pondicherry was a conflict in the Third Carnatic War, part of the global Seven Years' War. There were three major siege operations of Pondicherry. The first siege of Pondicherry was in the year 1748, the second in 1760 and the last and the third, and also the major one, took place in 1778 AD, in which the British East India Company defeated the French East India Company.

Lasting from 4 September 1760 to 15 January 1761, British land and naval forces besieged and eventually compelled the forces defending the French colonial outpost of Pondicherry to surrender. The city was on the verge of starvation when French commander Lally surrendered. Many civilians were killed in the fire between the lines when Lally attempted to evict them from the city in order to reduce the population under siege. It was the third British victory under Robert Clive.

This siege of Pondicherry was an important act by the British as they could take over land in the Indian subcontinent. The result of the siege was a decisive British victory.

During the period of war, Silver Fanon of Pondicherry Mint was in circulation in French India. This coin shows a Pearled crown on the obverse and 5 Fleur-de-lis on the reverse.