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Chunee

Chunee (also known as Chuny or Chuneelah; died 1 March 1826) was an Indian elephant in Regency London. Three elephants were brought to England in East India Company ships between 1809 and 1811. The third of these was Chunee. He travelled on the East Indiaman, , from Bengal, arriving in England in July 1811. Two other elephants, also owned by Stephen Polito at some point, arrived in England. The first arrived in September 1809. The second elephant was brought to England from Sri Lanka on the East India Company ship in June 1810. Chunee arrived in 1811 (some sources mistakenly state 1810) and was originally exhibited at the Covent Garden Theatre, but was bought by Polito (along with a two-headed cow, kangaroos, beavers, and exotic birds) from the estate of Gilbert Pidcock of the Exeter Exchange after Pidcock's death in 1810. After Polito's death, the menagerie was eventually purchased by Edward Cross in 1814. The events which led to Chunee being put down at Cross's orders 12 years later became a cause célèbre. At the time of Chunee's death, he weighed at least 5 tonnes, stood between 10 and 11 feet tall, and was valued at £1,000. Cross had insured him for £500.

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Article summary

Chunee (also known as Chuny or Chuneelah; died 1 March 1826) was an Indian elephant in Regency London. Three elephants were brought to England in East India Company ships between 1809 and 1811. The third of these was Chunee. He travelled on the East Indiaman, , from Bengal, arriving in England in July 1811. Two other elephants, also owned by Stephen Polito at some point, arrived in England. The first arrived in September 1809. The second elephant was brought to England from Sri Lanka on the East India Company ship in June 1810. Chunee arrived in 1811 (some sources mistakenly state 1810) and was originally exhibited at the Covent Garden Theatre, but was bought by Polito (along with a two-headed cow, kangaroos, beavers, and exotic birds) from the estate of Gilbert Pidcock of the Exeter Exchange after Pidcock's death in 1810. After Polito's death, the menagerie was eventually purchased by Edward Cross in 1814. The events which led to Chunee being put down at Cross's orders 12 years later became a cause célèbre. At the time of Chunee's death, he weighed at least 5 tonnes, stood between 10 and 11 feet tall, and was valued at £1,000. Cross had insured him for £500.

Key claims

  1. date of death: 1826-03-01 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of foundation: 1826 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of death is "1826-03-01". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1826". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  5. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377174207

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.