History of Chennai has witnessed many major events and Following are few of the major events that occurred in the glorious past of Chennai:
1639: Foundation of Madras
1640: Francis Day and Cogan landed with 25 Europeans. Foundation stone was laid for Fort St. George.
1664: The first organized hospital in the country started at Fort St George. General Hospital, which moved to its present location in 1772, opened its doors to Indians in 1842.
1668: Triplicane annexed to the city.
1678: Foundation stone laid for St. Mary’s Church in Fort St. George.
1679: St. Mary’s Church Completed.
1688: Madras City Municipal Corporation was inaugurated.
1693: Egmore, Purasawalkam and Tondiarpet annexed to the City.
1708: Thiruvottiyur, Nungambakkam, Vyasarpady, Kottivakkam and Sathangadu - Five neighboring Villages annexed; wall built around Black Town.
1711: First Printing Press erected in Madras.
1735: Chintadripet was formed.
1742: Veperi, Perimet, Perambur and Pudupakkam annexed to the city.
1746: The French return Madras to the English; Santhome and Mylapore annexed to the City.
1758: French Commander Lawly siege Madras.
1759: French siege ended.
1767: Hyder Ali’s first invasion.
1768: Chepauk palace was built by Nawab of Arcot.
1769: Hyder Ali’s second invasion.
1777: Veerappillai appointed as First Kotthawal- Hence the name Kotthawal Chavadi.
1783: Fort St. George was repaired and attained the present shape.
1784: The First Newspaper –Madras Courier.
1785: First Post Office.
1795: Triplicane Big Mosque - Walajah Mosque built.
1817: Madras Literary Society founded.
1826: Board of Public Instructions founded.
1831: First Commercial Bank –Madras Bank; First Census in the City.
1832: Madras Club founded.
1834: First Survey School inaugurated – Later developed as Engineering College.
1835: First Medical College – Later became Madras Christian College.
1841: Ice House was built – Ice brought from America through ships was stored here; later named as Vivekananda House.
1842: First Light House.
1846: Pachaiappan School; Later Pachaiappa’s College.
1851: Museum formed
1853: Zoo was built.
1855: University Board formed.
1856: First Railway –Royapuram to Arcot.
1857: Madras University
1864-65: Presidency College was built.
1868: Attempt to protect water supply.
1873: First Birth Registered. Madras Mail Newspaper founded. Cosmopolitan Club founded.
1874: University Senate house built.
1876-78: Great Famine – Buckingham Canal dug.
1878: The Hindu Newspaper founded.
1882: First Telephone.
1885: Marina Beach Road formed.
1886: Indian National Congress Meet at Madras. Connemera Public Library founded.
1889: foundation stone laid for High Court Building.
1894: First Car – Mr. A.J. Boag, Director of Parry & Co, drove the Car on City Roads.
1895: First Tram Car.
1899: First Tamil Newspaper-Swadesamitran published.
1905: Port Trust formed.
1906: Chennai Electric Supply Corporation was established, King Institute, Guindy founded.
1907: Opening of ‘Indian Bank’.
1914: Water mains and drainage formed. Street lights introduced. Kilpauk water works inaugurated. Endon bombardment- Endon German fighter Vessel bombarded the sea shore and disappeared - First World War.
1917: First Aeroplane; Simpson & Co., arranged for the trial flight.
1924: School of Indian Medicine.
1925: First Bus Transport.
1930: First Broadcasting Station founded at Ripon Buildings Complex.
1934: First Mayor - Raja Sir. Muthiah Chettiyar
1938: All India Radio formed and broadcasting from Ripon Buildings ceased.
1942: Second World War - Evacuation of Madras.
1943: Japanese Fighter Plane dropped bombs on City and disappeared.
1946: Mambalam, Saidapet, Govt. Farm, Puliyur, Kodambakkam, Saligramam, Adayar and Alandur Villages which formed part of Saidapet Municipality were annexed to the city. Sembiyam, Siruvallur, Peravallur, Small Sembarambakka and Ayanavaram which formed part of Sembium Panchayat Board were annexed to the city. Aminjikarai, Periyakudal, Maduvankarai Villages which formed part of Aminjikarai Panchayat Board were annexed. Part of Velacheri Village belonging to Velacheri Panchayat Board was also annexed to the city.
1947: Indian National Flag hoisted over Fort. St. George.
1952: Nehru Stadium
1956: Gandhi Mandap.
1959: Guindy Children’s Park.
1969: World Tamil Congress.
1971: Snake Park.
1972: Madras Metropolitan Development Authority.
1973: Madras Corporation Superseded.
1975: Kamaraj Mandap. Valluvar Kottam.
1976: New Light House.
1977: Madras Metropolitan Water supply and Sewage Board established. Kanagam, Taramani, Thiruvanmiyur, Velacheri, Kodambakkam, Virugambakkam, Saligramam, Koyambedu, Thirumangalam, Villivakkam, Errukancheri, Kolathur, Kodungaiyur Panchayat areas annexed to the City; Madras reaches the present stage.
1988: Periyar Science Park, Birla Planetarium were founded
1996: Madras was officially renamed as Chennai.
2000: The Tidel Park at Taramani was opened to Information Technology enterprises. This Software Park gave Chennai its very own cyber corridor.