Beri Thimappa / Thimmanna was the dubash (interpreter) and chief negotiator for Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, the agents of the British East India Company, and was instrumental in the purchase of Madras from the Nayak brothers. Thimmappa Chetti migrated in the early 17th century to Chennai from Palacole, near Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.[1] He established a Black Town outside the walls of the newly built Fort of Madras which later became Fort St George.[2]
His families were chief merchants of East India Company for several decades. Tnimmappa's brother Beri Venkatadri owned Guindy Lodge, which is present Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan.He is one of the founder of Madras state. They belong to Puragiri Kshatriya (Perike) / Perika caste.[3]