37 Facts About Claude Martin

Major-General Claude Martin was a French army officer who served in the French and later British East India companies in colonial India.

Claude Martin was born in Lyon, France, into a humble background, and was a self-made man who left a substantial lasting legacy in the form of his writings, buildings and the educational institutions he founded posthumously.

Claude Martin was the son of Fleury Martin, a casket maker, and Anne Vaginay, a butcher's daughter.

Claude Martin's family were middle class and by this time they had businesses in mustard, vinegar and brandy.

In 1751 at the age of 16 Claude Martin decided to seek his fortune abroad, and he signed up with the French Compagnie des Indes.

Claude Martin's mother is reported to have said that he should not return from enlisting as a soldier until he was "in a carriage".

Claude Martin was posted to India where he served under Commander and Governor Joseph Francois Dupleix and General Thomas Arthur Lally in the Carnatic Wars against the British East India Company.

Claude Martin was initially employed at the then-new Fort William in Calcutta, Bengal, and afterwards on the survey of Bengal under the English Surveyor General James Rennell.

In 1776, Claude 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.

Claude Martin resided in Lucknow from 1776 until his death.

Claude 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.

Claude Martin was recognized for his military talents and got important experience in various military encounters.

Claude Martin was promoted to the ranks of Colonel and Major General being an extraordinary case, since no alien soldier in the Company Army was allowed to rise above the rank of Major.

Claude Martin moved to Lucknow almost at the same time when Asaf-ud-daula shifted the Capital to Lucknow.

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 contract for the construction of Kothi was undertaken by Claude Martin as requested by Saadat Ali Khan.

Claude Martin built the palace of Constantia and his fine house of Farhat 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 Martin's collection included over 650 Company style paintings of birds which were painted by Mughal-trained painters.

Claude Martin's walls were decorated with neo-Greek Wedgwood style decorations, his paintings were by Mughal-trained artists and the statues above his palace were mostly clever reproductions in the style of two European statues.

Later, Claude Martin's life was mired in controversy as he had kept two wives of Colonel Polier's, after Polier had departed from India.

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

Claude Martin had a city residence the Farhat Baksh and a country palace, the Constantia.

Claude Martin had other properties in Lucknow, Kanpur, Bhazipur and Benaras as well, from which he got a substantial income.

Claude Martin was an astute businessman with a diversity of interests.

Claude Martin was well known for his financial skills, and it was said that he never ran after money, but made it come to him.

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

Claude Martin exported indigo and cloth to Europe in exchange for Spanish dollars.

Claude Martin started a cannon foundry, introduced a Dutch method of cutting diamonds, made gunpowder, and coined rupees.

Apart from being a self-made man, Claude Martin was an amateur scientist and a doctor of sorts.

Claude Martin seems to have suffered from bladder stones in his urinary tract and in 1782, despite excruciating suffering, he successfully attempted a primitive and unorthodox form of lithotripsy.

Claude Martin sent details of the operation to the Company of Surgeons in London and, notwithstanding initial scepticism among bladder surgeons, it appears to have been accepted as the first recorded operation of its kind.

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

Claude Martin never married but, as a nawab, he had close and long relationships with several mistresses, which was the normal practice in that era.

Claude Martin had bought her as a young girl aged nine.

Claude Martin always claimed that they lived happily together, but Boulone must inevitably have harboured feelings of jealousy when Claude Martin introduced younger mistresses into the household.

Claude Martin is pictured next to a young boy named James Zulphikar, who was said to have been adopted by Martin.

Claude Martin died on 13 September 1800 at the Town House, Lucknow.