Job Charnock and Charnockite

Job Charnock was an officer of the East India Company in Bengal due to whose initiative the British were able to acquire Calcutta. He died in 1692 and his tombstone is found in a mausoleum in the compound of St. John's Church. Holland discovered that this tombstone was made of the hypersthene-bearing rock occurring rear Madras and whose petrology he was investigating at that time. As this was a new type of rock, Holland suggested for it the name Charnockite in honour of Charnock, the Founder of Calcutta.

In this paper, a description is given of the mausoleum, the tombstone and the epitaphs on it. The life, career and character of Job Charnock are briefly outlined.