April 2, 1755: Severndroog and the Port of Geriah taken. — Commodore James, commanding the British squadron in the Indian seas, in his expedition against the piratical state of Geriah, having chased the fleet of Tulagec Angria off the coast, returned to destroy the fortifications of his stronghold. These consisted of Severndroog, a strong isolated fortress, mounting 54 guns, within musket-shot of the mainland, defending the port of Geriah, which was also protected by the fort of Goa, mounting 40 guns, and two other forts of 20 guns each. Placing his ships between the island and the main, the commodore cannonaded Severndroog with his upper-deck guns, while with those on the lower deck he engaged fort Goa. By noon Severndroog was nearly in ruins, and the houses within the walls in flames. The cannonade of the ships prevented the defenders from extinguishing the fire, and the conflagration communicating with two magazines, the garrison abandoned the place. A short time after this, the fort of Goa hung out a flag of truce; but the Governor with his garrison crossed over to the island and reoccupied the smoking ruins of Severndroog. Commodore James sent them terms of surrender, but as no satisfactory reply could be obtained, he landed a party of seamen to storm the place. Forming under cover of the fire of the ships, these gallant fellows rushed to the gate of the sally port, and with their axes cut their way into the fort, and, having with their axes cut their way into the fort, drove the defenders beyond the walls, and took possession of the place. The loss of the British was but trifling.

April 9, 1755: The port and fortifications of Bancole, in the piratical state of Geriah, on the coast of Malabar, surrendered this day to the expedition under Commodore James.

April 10, 1755: War declared between the Dutch and Algerines. “…the several admiralties of Holland and Zealand have ordered fifteen men of war to be put into commission, to protect their trade in the Mediterranean.”

April 14, 1755: English General Edward Braddock arrives in Virginia with two regiments of English regulars and begins plans to march on Fort Du Quesne.

April 25, 1755: “His Majesty made a most gracious speech from the throne; in which he acquainted the two Houses, that the zeal they had shown for supporting the honour, rights, and possessions of his crown, had afforded him the greatest satisfaction; that his desire to preserve the public tranquility had been sincere and uniform: that he had religiously adhered to the stipulations of the treaty of Aix la Chapelle; and made it his саге not to injure, or offend any power whatever; but never could entertain a thought of purchasing the name of peace, at the expence of suffering encroachments upon, or of yielding up, what justly belonged to Great Britain, either by ancient possession or solemn treaties; that the vigour and firmness of his Parliament on this important occasion had enabled him to be prepared for such contingencies as might happen.”

April 28, 1755: Admiral Howe, with a fleet of fifteen sail of the line, one twenty-gun ship, and a sloop, sails from Plymouth with two regiments of foot to drive the French from the American seas.