Chennai has an ancient and colourful history. It is a city with multiple cultural influences. The city was named Chennaipatnam in 1640

1522 Portuguese colonise San Thome.

1547 Luz Church built. Bleeding Cross discovered a St. Thomas' Mount.

1611 British establish factory in Machilipatnam.

1640 Black Town' company established. Name Chennaipatnam is used for the first time there.

1641 Madras becomes headquarters for British factories on the East Coast.

1665 The first `coup' in Madras. Governor Foxcroft deposed by Edward Winter.

1678 Madras gets its first bank.

1688 The Madras Corporation is established. Higginson is the first Mayor.

1715 A 'pucca' bridge is built for the first time from the Fort to the Island Grounds. Also, St George's, the first western-style school in Madras is established.

1733 Map of Madras is prepared.

1752 The Presidency is shifted to Madras once again.

1786 Postal services begin after Madras Post Office is established.

1835 Madras Medical School (now Madras Medical College) established.

1837 The General Assembly School (now Madras Christian College) is opened.

1841 The High School (Presidency College) is declared open.

1842 Pachaiyappa's Central Institution (Pachaiyappa's College) is started functioning. The Madras University Board is formed.

1846 Madras Cricket Club springs up.

1855 Government takes over Chepauk Palace after abolishing the Titular Nawabship of Carnatic. First zoo established and public telegraph service begins.

1856 First railway line opened from Madras to Arcot.

1857 University of Madras is incorporated.

1858 The Madras Police is formalised as a service.

1861 An Indian is appointed to the Madras Legislative Assembly for the first time.

1871 First census is undertaken in Madras. First drainage system is constructed.

1873 Cosmopolitan Club founded. Central Station opened.

1874 Madras University Senate House constructed.

1878 The Hindu (a daily newspaper that is still going strong) starts publication.

1882 Swadesamitran (a Tamil publication, now defunct) started. First telephone exchange starts operation with.25 subscribers.

1883 The headquarters of Theosophical Society is established.

1887 Indian National Congress meets in Madras for the first time.

1892 Madras High Court declared open.

1896 Connemara Public Library opened.

1900 Business starts in Moore Market.

1911 City's first bioscope (what cinema theatres were once called) started in Broadway.

1913 City's first permanent cinema theatre opened on Mount Road. Ripon Building housing the Chennai Corporation declared open.

1939 Tercentenary (300 years) of Madras celebrated.

1946 Sri Ramakrishna Mission established.

1996 Madras is re-christened Chennai.

1998 The first law university in the country, Dr Ambedkar Law University is inaugurated.

2000 Chennai This Fortnight and Explocity.com revolution take Chennai by storm.