Capture of Serampore (1808)

Capture of Serampore
Part of the English Wars
Painting of Danish Serampore (Frederiksnagore), by Peter Anker
Date 28 January 1808 Location Serampore, Bengal 22°45′N88°20′E / 22.75°N 88.34°E / 22.75; 88.34 Result British victory Territorial changes Serampore occupied by Britain
Belligerents
Denmark-Norway	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Jacob Kræfting	Carey George Elliot William Montagu Neviusore Courey
Units involved
HDMS Waldemarr HDMS Elizabeth HDMS Freya HDMS Holstein HDMS Maria HDMS Mary HDMS Nymphe	HMS Modeste HMS Terpsichore HMS Dasher 3 Sepoy companies
Strength
12 ships c. 40 men Few cannons	3 ships Unknown amount of men
Casualties and losses
12 ships	Unknown

The Capture of Serampore (Danish : Overtagelsen af Frederiksnagore), also commonly known as the Second Capture of Serampure (Den anden overtagelse af Frederiksnagore), was a siege and capture of the Danish colony of Serampore by British forces on 28 January 1808. The Danes capitulated immediately after the arrival of the British, as the latter's forces were far superior.

Background

Further information: English Wars (Scandinavia)

In 1801, the conflict between Denmark–Norway and Great Britain extended to their colonial territories, including India. On 8 May 1801, Serampore, a settlement of Danish India, capitulated to British forces led by Colonel Dickson. ^[1] Similar occurrences took place in Tranquebar and the Danish West Indies. However, the hostilities came to an end following the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, which stipulated that Britain would withdraw from Danish possessions. ^{[2] [1]}

Capture

A second rupture between Britain and Denmark–Norway occurred in September 1807, and Lieutenant Colonel Carey was sent to capture Serampore. ^[3] On the morning of 28 January 1808, Carey led three Sepoy companies from Fort William over the Hooghly River and surrounded Serampore. ^[4]

According to Carl Bering Liisberg in his Danmarks søfart og søhandel, a British detachment marched into Serampore, disarmed the guards, and occupied the lodge without any time for a Danish surrender. ^[1] However, according to other sources, Colonel Carey demanded the surrender of the town and factory, which the Danish governor, Jacob Kræfting, steadily accepted. ^{[4] [5]} Additionally, all twelve Danish vessels harbouring in the Hooghly River were seized by the companies. ^{[6] [7]}

Aftermath

Britain would occupy Serampore until 1815, however, Kræfting would preserve his position as Governor, while being paid by the British commissioner. ^[5]

Despite British demise, the Baptist Serampore Mission Press would lose its Danish protection but was allowed to operate without interruption. ^{[8] [6]}

References

1. Liisberg 2020.
2. Glover 2018.
3. Chatterjee, Arup K. (2018-01-08). "With the restoration of a Danish tavern in Serampore, a forgotten chapter of history comes to light". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
4. Marshman 2023, p. 381.
5. Larsen 1940, p. 84.
6. Marshman 2023, p. 382.
7. "Page 213 | Issue 16982, 7 February 1815 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
8. Marshman 1864, p. 140.

Works cited

• Larsen, Kay (1940). Guvernører, Residenter, Kommandanter og Chefer (PDF) (in Danish). Copenhagen: ARTHUR JENSENS FORLAG.
• Liisberg, H. C. Bering (2020-01-13). Danmarks søfart og søhandel. Bind 1 (in Danish). Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN   978-87-26-30660-6.
• Marshman, John Clark (1864). The Story of Carey. J. Heaton.
• Sandeman, Hugh David (1868). Selections from Calcutta Gazettes of the Years 1806 to 1815 Inclusive. Vol. IV. Office of Superintendent Government Printing.
• Marshman, John Clark (2023-04-17). The Life and Times of Carey, Marshman, and Ward: Vol. I. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN   978-3-382-31348-7.
• Glover, Gareth (2018-09-30). "10". The Two Battles of Copenhagen, 1801 and 1807: Britain and Denmark in the Napoleonic Wars. Casemate Publishers. ISBN   978-1-4738-9833-2.