CHARNOCK

charnock, job (d. 1693), english founder of calcutta, went out to india in 1655 or 1656, apparently not in the east india company's service, but soon joined it. he was stationed at cossimbazar, and subsequently at patna. in 1685 he became chief agent at hugli. being besieged there by the mogul viceroy of bengal, he put the company's goods and servants on board his light vessels and dropped down the river 27 m. to the village of sutanati, a place well chosen for the purpose of defence, which occupied the site of what is now calcutta. it was only, however, at the third attempt that charnock finally settled down at this spot, and the selection of the future capital of india was entirely due to his stubborn resolution. he was a silent morose man, not popular among his contemporaries, but "always a faithfull man to the company." he is said to have married a hindu widow. charnock (or chernock), robert (c.1663-1696), english conspirator, belonged to a warwickshire family, and was educated at magdalen college, oxford, becoming a fellow of his college and a roman catholic priest. when in 1687 the dispute arose between james ii. and the fellows of magdalen over the election of a president charnock favoured the first royal nominee, anthony farmer, and also the succeeding one, samuel parker, bishop of oxford. almost alone among the fellows he was not driven out in november 1687, and he became dean and then vice-president of the college under the new regime, but was expelled in october 1688. residing at the court of the stuarts in france, or conspiring in england, charnock and sir george barclay appear to have arranged the details of the unsuccessful attempt to kill william iii. near turnham green in february 1696, barclay escaped, but charnock was arrested, was tried and found guilty, and was hanged on the 18th of march 1696.