French Colonial History and Its Impact On Penang

The French colonists have never landed in Penang. Yet their colonial presence in the 17th and 18th century led to the founding of Penang. The following chronology traces the history of French colonialism in relation to the founding of Penang.

• 1624: The French colonized Senegal.
• 1664: The French East India Company was established. The island of Reunion was colonized.
• 1673: Chandernagore in India was colonised.
• 1674: Pondicherry in India was colonised.
• 1718: Mauritius was colonised.
• 1744-48: War of Austrian Succession was fought between the British and the French.
• 1756: Seychelles was colonised.
• 1778-1783: The American Revolutionary War (American War of Independence) was fought between the British and its thirteen British colonies, aided by France, Spain and the Dutch Republic.
• 1786: Francis Light established Penang.
• 1789: French Revolution.
• 1795: France invaded the Netherlands. William V of Orange, the Stadtholder (de facto head of state) of the Netherlands fled to London.
• 1803: Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815. Declaration of war between Britain and France.
• 18 Sept 1805: Penang elevated to Presidency. Philip Dundas made the first Governor of the Presidency of Prince of Wales Island.
• 1815: Battle of Waterloo. The British under the Duke of Wellington defeated the French under Napoleon Bonaparte.