Claude Martin was born on Jan 4 1735, son of a small barrel of Terreaux, Lyon. His legacy is at the root of a school, La Martiniere , which was build through his will.
In 1765 he was appointed collector in Awadh and is confined to Lucknow. Dismissed from the army of the CAIO in 1767, he remains in India employed as surveyor to do mapping in northern India.
He resumed active service in 1791 and accompanies Lord Cornwallis as aide de camp during the Third Mysore War and then returned to Lucknow after the fall of Seringapatam. It was during this campaign, informed of events taking place in France (French revolution), he took the decision not to return to Europe and finish his life in India. In 1794, he volunteered to lead the cavalry of Nabab of Awadh against the Rohilla rebels, which earned him his last promotion of Major General. In the process he made his fortune in the Indigo and money lending businesses.
He died in Lucknow on 13 September 1800. On his tomb is inscribed: "Here lies Major General Claude Martin arrived in India as a simple soldier." His will, written in Hindi and English, plans to bequeath to three cities, Lucknow, Calcutta and Lyons, 700,000 francs each, money intended for the establishment of schools for children of both sexes.