In December 1810, when the British forces captured the island of Mauritius and its dependencies from the French, an Act of Capitulation was signed between the British and French. However, the archives were not included in the Capitulation Act. It was only with the signature of the Treaty of Paris in 1814 (specifically Article 31) that the archives records, which were since the capitulation, in the custody of a French Officer (Marroux) returned to their former abode in the Government House. The National Archives got its official recognition under the British administration. The first Colonial Archivist was appointed in 1815. For the major part of the British period however, the Archives remained an associated Department of the Registrar General, and it did not have enough power to operate as a fully autonomous body.
Combat du Grand Port, Isle de France, 20-25 Aout 1810
Photo Source: Dessein de Lebreton, Musée de Marine, Paris
Vue du combat de l’Ile de la Passe pendant la journée du 23 Aout 1810.
Photo Source: Archives Nationales
Le Baron Antoine Marrier d’Unienville, 1er Archiviste, nommé en 1815