The British Trading Company began licensed trading at Surat in 1600. To secure its trade lines and commercial interests in spice trade, a need was felt of a Port closer to the Malaccan Straits which resulted in successful purchase of Channapatnam (Madras), originally known as Madraspattinam. It soon became the hub of commercial activities of British Trading Company. The Madraspattinam gave birth to the new settlement of George Town and finally led to the creation of Madras City which assisted the Britishers to establish influence over Carnatic region, Arcot and Srirangapatnam as well as to keep at bay the French Forces based at Pondicherry.

Fort St George, Chennai Madras Regiment was raised on 04 Dec 1758 for its Defence

Today, the Fort serves as the administrative headquarters of the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu state and still houses a garrison for troops in transit to various locations in South India and the Andamans. The Fort Museum contains many relics of the British Raj, including portraits of many of the Governors.