Surrender of Tranquebar (1808)

The Surrender of Tranquebar (Overgivelsen af Trankebar) or the Capture of Tranquebar (Overtagelsen af Trankebar) was a surrender of the capital of Danish India, Tranquebar, in 1808 to the British East India Company as a result of the English Wars. The capital would surrender almost immediately after the arrival of a British force.

Background
In 1801, hostilities between Denmark–Norway spread to their colonial holdings, including India. On 12 May 1801, Tranquebar, the capital of Danish India, surrendered to the British under Richard Wellesley. Similar events would happen to Serampore and the Danish West Indies, however, hostilities ended after the Treaty of Amiens, where it was decided Britain was to embark from the Danish possessions in 1802.

Surrender
In early 1808, hostilities broke out again, and as a response, the British sent HMS Russell and HMS Monmouth with a detachment of the 14th Regiment of Foot and 74 cannons to Tranquebar. Upon anchoring off Tranquebar on 12 February 1808, the British recommended the Danish governor, Peter Hermanson, to surrender, which he quickly did. At 10 PM, articles of capitulation were signed, between Colonel James Watson and Captain Thomas Caulfield, on behalf of the British, and Governor Hermanson on behalf of the Danish.

Aftermath
Tranquebar and the other Danish possesions in India would be occupied by Britain until 1815, however, the damage on the trade would never recover, and in 1845 Denmark sold its Indian holdings to Britain for 1.125.000 Danish Rigsdaler.