This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
The Black Hole of Calcutta recalled in vivid prose
An account recounts the 1756 siege of Calcutta and the nightmarish confinement of 146 prisoners in a small chamber. Holwell, Parker, Lushington, and others describe hours of heat thirst and suffocation as guards supplied water to heighten the drama before a midnight escape and rescue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Calcutta
India
Dowlah
Nabab
Bengal
John
Holwell
Mr. Ashwell
Hallw
Cty
Admiral Watson
Coloart
Clive
Calcritt
Holtwell
Wellwell
Uellwell
Horn
Comet
Airy
Michie
Womler
Vinny
L.S
Stallwell
Tia
Coles
Lent
William Parker
Baillie
Jenks
Beverly
Law
Buchanan
Simpson
Mr. Dumbleton
Captain Stevenson
Edward Myre
Nyhout
Eivery
Cary
Bin
Thor
Jervas Bellamy
Bellamy
Cook
Lushington
Walcot
Mills
Sis
Trey