Major General Claude Martin
Born – 04.01.1735
Died – 13.09.1800
Claude Martin, the Founder of the La Martiniere Schools was born on 4th January, 1735, in Lyon, France.
He signed up with the French Compagnie des Indes and came to India, seeking his fortune. Later, he enlisted in the Bengal arm of the British East India Company in 1763.
A gallant soldier, he rose to the rank of Major- General in 1775 and moved on to become the mediator for the Nawab of Oudh and the British. Claude Martin amassed a huge fortune.
He was a man of vision and he left generous endowments for the founding of schools which have been established in Lyon, Lucknow and Kolkata.
Major General Claude Martin passed away on 13th Sept, 1800. La Martiniere, Kolkata was finally opened on 1st March, 1836. Originally a single school, it was housed in what is today the boys’ school campus. In 1840, La Martiniere for Girls become a separate entity… and since then there has been no looking back.