Calcutta Fort William 

‘Fort William, on the south bank of the river, is said to be stronger than any other fortress in India. It reflects great honour on the talents of Colonel Polier, the engineer. The buildings on all sides of the park in which it stands are of a large scale, allowing that free circulation of fresh air which is so necessary in Bengal.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024). 

More about Fort William, Calcutta 

King William III, also known as William of Orange, was a pivotal figure in European history. He held multiple titles and roles. The British East India Company, which established its base in Calcutta, constructed a fort to protect its trading interests and personnel. To honour their monarch, they named it Fort William. As the British influence grew and Calcutta developed into a major city, the area surrounding the fort came to be known by the same name. The fort itself was the site of the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta incident.

The name of the city has always been pronounced ‘Kolkata’ in India but the anglicized version ‘Calcutta’ was the official name until the change was made to reflect the correct pronunciation. So Calcutta officially became Kolkata on January 1, 2001.

The fort was built to defend the city against possible attack from both European and Indian powers. Its name was also used for a College established when Buchanan was in India and of which he became vice-principal. It was an influential and very well paid position.