Captain Middleton and the First English Factory at Surat (1611)

The establishment of the first English factory at Surat in 1611 marked the formal beginning of British commercial presence in India. This significant development was achieved through the efforts of Captain John Middleton, a senior officer of the English East India Company (EIC), who played a pivotal role in negotiating trade privileges with local authorities and establishing secure trading arrangements along the western coast of India. The Surat factory laid the foundation for the English East India Company’s future expansion, both in commerce and later in political power.

Background: The English Quest for Eastern Trade

During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, European maritime powers were competing intensely for control over lucrative trade with the East. The Portuguese, since the arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498, had dominated Indian Ocean commerce, especially through their fortified ports at Goa, Diu, and Cochin.
To challenge this monopoly, English merchants formed the East India Company in 1600, after receiving a charter from Queen Elizabeth I granting them exclusive rights to trade with the East Indies. Initial English voyages to India sought to establish direct trade relations, bypassing Portuguese intermediaries.
The first English attempts to establish trade in India were led by Captain William Hawkins in 1608, who arrived at Surat and sought permission from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir to trade freely. Although Hawkins received an audience with the emperor, his efforts were thwarted by Portuguese hostility and Mughal suspicion. The English had to withdraw temporarily, but their ambitions persisted.

Captain John Middleton’s Voyage and Arrival at Surat

In 1609, Captain John Middleton—an experienced English naval commander—sailed from England in command of a fleet sent by the East India Company under the Sixth Voyage. His mission was to expand trade with the eastern markets, secure concessions from Mughal authorities, and protect English interests from Portuguese interference.
Middleton reached the western coast of India in 1611 and anchored off Surat, then one of the principal port cities under the Mughal Empire. Surat’s strategic location on the Tapti River estuary made it an ideal gateway for trade with Persia, Arabia, and East Africa, attracting merchants from various parts of Asia.

Struggle Against the Portuguese

At the time of Middleton’s arrival, the Portuguese navy maintained a strong naval presence in the Arabian Sea, enforcing their monopoly through the Cartaz system (a naval pass required for all trading vessels). The Portuguese, fearing English competition, tried to prevent Middleton’s ships from entering Surat and threatened local Mughal officials for cooperating with the English.
Captain Middleton, however, demonstrated both naval strength and diplomatic tact. He engaged in a series of naval confrontations near Swally (Suvali), a coastal village north of Surat. These encounters weakened Portuguese control and impressed the Mughal governor of Surat with English maritime capability. The Mughal authorities, dissatisfied with Portuguese high-handedness, gradually began favouring English merchants as alternative trading partners.

Establishment of the First English Factory at Surat

In 1611, after prolonged negotiation, the Mughal Governor of Surat (Mutasaddi) granted permission to Captain Middleton and his associates to establish a permanent English trading post or “factory” at Surat.
A factory in contemporary usage did not mean a manufacturing unit but rather a trading establishment or warehouse where goods were stored, processed, and shipped. The term derived from “factors,” meaning company agents or merchants managing the trade.
The Surat factory became the first official English trading station in India. It functioned as the headquarters of the English East India Company’s operations on the western coast and handled commerce in textiles, indigo, spices, and other valuable goods.

Role of the Mughal Authorities

The cooperation of the Mughal administration was crucial in legitimising the English presence. The Mughal Empire under Jahangir sought to encourage commerce and welcomed new trading partners who could bring wealth and luxury goods. The Mughals also saw the English as useful counterweights to Portuguese influence, which had become politically troublesome.
The local governor’s support, backed by the emperor’s tolerant policy, enabled the English to secure protection for their goods and agents. In exchange, the English agreed to respect Mughal sovereignty, pay customs duties, and assist in naval defence against Portuguese aggression.

Subsequent Developments and Consolidation

Following Captain Middleton’s success, the English presence at Surat expanded rapidly:

• In 1612, Captain Thomas Best arrived with a new fleet and defeated the Portuguese decisively in the Battle of Swally (near Surat). This naval victory further consolidated English influence and earned them greater favour with the Mughal court.
• By 1613, the East India Company had obtained formal imperial permission to trade, and the Surat factory became the Company’s chief western base.
• The English factors at Surat managed trade with Persia, Arabia, and East Africa, exporting Indian textiles, indigo, and spices, while importing silver, woollens, and metals.
• Surat later became the main headquarters of the East India Company’s operations in India until the rise of Bombay (Mumbai) in the late 17th century.

The factory also served as a diplomatic centre, where the Company maintained correspondence with Mughal officials and coordinated trade with distant regions such as Agra and Broach (Bharuch).

Significance of the Surat Factory

The establishment of the Surat factory in 1611 under Captain Middleton’s leadership had profound historical significance:

1. Beginning of English Trade in India:
   • It marked the official start of continuous English commercial activity in India.
2. Foundation of the British Colonial Presence:
   • What began as a trading venture later evolved into political dominance, culminating in British colonial rule.
3. End of Portuguese Monopoly:
   • The successful establishment of the English factory weakened Portuguese naval control over Indian trade routes.
4. Growth of Indo-English Relations:
   • The English cultivated cordial relations with Mughal officials, paving the way for future political and commercial concessions.
5. Development of Surat as a Trade Hub:
   • The city became a thriving centre for international trade and the first seat of the East India Company’s power in India.

Captain Middleton’s Legacy

Captain John Middleton is remembered as one of the pioneering figures of early English maritime enterprise in India. His persistence and diplomatic skill during a period of fierce Portuguese resistance ensured the survival and establishment of the first English foothold on Indian soil.
Although later figures such as Thomas Best, Nicholas Downton, and Sir Thomas Roe (the English ambassador to Jahangir in 1615) further expanded Company influence, Middleton’s 1611 success at Surat remains the crucial starting point of English trade in India.