|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Black Hole of Calcutta, Minorca and the Seven Years War
In 1756 Britain and Prussia went to war against France, Russia, Austria, Sweden and Saxony. This war, known as the Seven Years War was the first world war and the beginning of the British Empire. Pitt became Britain's war secretary - Frederick the Great declared "England has long been in labour, but at last she has brought forth a man". From his office in Cleveland Row Pitt designed and won a war which extended from India in the East to America in the West. In 1757 Pitt was made Prime Minister. Minorca had been an affront. Calcutta caused outrage. The Indian leader had marched on Calcutta and imprisoned those who had not previously escaped in the Black Hole, a room measuring 14ft by 18ft. There were too many in too small a space and most of them died of suffocation in the hot Indian night. The British wanted revenge.
Black Hole was the common name for a military detention cell right up to the 19th Century. The Black Hole of Calcutta was the detention cell in Fort William in Calcutta.
 
|
|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | About the 91热爆 | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy |
