Background
Claude Martin was born on January 5, 1735, in the rue de la Palme, Lyons, France.
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Claude Martin
Edit ProfileEducation
Martin studied at the local parish school, where he excelled in mathematics and physics. After leaving school he was apprenticed to a local silk weaver.
Career
In 1751 at the age of 16 Martin decided to seek his fortune abroad, and he went out to India to serve under Dupleix and Lally in the Carnatic wars.
By 1760, having taken a dim view of French prospects in India, he deserted to the English to join their "Free French Company". Lucknow was "the most dissolute and extravagant of the native courts that were independent of British rule in late eighteenth century India". Martin built two magnificent palaces and filled them with works of art. He had extensive connections with the world of artists, collectors and dealers - Townley, Hamilton and the Society of Dilettanti in London, for example - and welcomed numerous artists, such as Zoffany, the Daniells and Thomas Longcroft, from whom he commissioned paintings. He amassed a huge library, scientific instruments, fossils, minerals and stuffed animals, antiquities and curiosities.
In addition, after accepting service in the Bengal army of the English, he obtained an ensign's commission in 1763, and steadily rising to the rank of major-general. He was employed on the building of the new Fort William at Calcutta, and afterwards on the survey of Bengal under Rennell.
In 1776 he was allowed to accept the appointment of superintendent of the arsenal of the nawab of Oudh at Lucknow, retaining his rank but being ultimately placed on half pay. He acquired a large fortune, and he bequeathed his residuary estate to found institutions for the education of European children at Lucknow, Calcutta and Lyons, all known by the name of "La Martiniere. "
Claude Martin died on September 13, 1800.
Achievements
Views
Quotations:
"Countries where women have access to professional life are also those where the birth rate is higher. "
"We know of fishing vessels that carry up to twelve different flags on board, and they re-flag their ship at sea. "
Connections
References
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Born
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Died
September 13, 1800 (aged 65) -
Resting place
Cimetière de Loyasse, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France -
Nationality
France