Governor Generals of India

The Governor-General of India was the highest official of the British administration in India during both the East India Company and British Crown periods. The office, which evolved over nearly two centuries, played a crucial role in shaping colonial policy, governance, and the political unification of the Indian subcontinent. The title later became Viceroy of India after 1858, when the British Crown assumed direct control following the Revolt of 1857.

Historical Background

The office of the Governor-General originated with the Regulating Act of 1773, passed by the British Parliament to establish centralised control over the East India Company’s territories in India. Before this, the Company’s Presidencies at Bengal, Madras, and Bombay functioned largely independently.
The Governor-General of Bengal was initially responsible for Bengal alone but later gained authority over other presidencies. After the Charter Act of 1833, the title changed to Governor-General of India, marking the beginning of centralised administration across British India.
After the Government of India Act of 1858, the position combined both political and ceremonial powers under the title Viceroy and Governor-General of India, representing the British Crown directly.

Governors-General During East India Company Rule (1773–1858)

1. Warren Hastings (1773–1785)

• First Governor-General of Bengal under the Regulating Act of 1773.
• Reorganised administration, justice, and revenue systems in Bengal.
• Faced impeachment in Britain led by Edmund Burke for alleged misconduct.
• Promoted Indian studies and established the foundation of civil administration.

2. Sir John Macpherson (1785–1786) (Acting)

• Held office temporarily until the arrival of the next Governor-General.
• Continued Hastings’s administrative policies.

3. Lord Cornwallis (1786–1793)

• Introduced the Permanent Settlement of Bengal (1793), fixing land revenue with zamindars.
• Reorganised civil services, police, and judicial systems — often called the “father of the Indian civil service.”
• Strengthened British military power against Mysore under Tipu Sultan.

4. Sir John Shore (1793–1798)

• Advocated a policy of non-intervention.
• His tenure saw growing instability among Indian states, leading to criticism for inaction.

5. Lord Wellesley (1798–1805)

• Adopted the Subsidiary Alliance System, expanding British influence across Indian princely states.
• His policies laid the foundation for British territorial expansion.
• Founded the Fort William College in Calcutta for training civil servants.

6. Sir George Barlow (1805–1807) (Acting)

• Attempted to reduce expenses and reversed Wellesley’s expansionist policies.
• Faced discontent within the army, notably the Vellore Mutiny (1806).

7. Lord Minto I (1807–1813)

• Concluded treaties with Indian states and initiated British diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries.
• Oversaw the Charter Act of 1813, which ended the East India Company’s trade monopoly (except for tea and trade with China).

8. Lord Hastings (1813–1823)

• Continued British expansion through wars, notably the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816) and Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818).
• The Maratha defeat led to the final consolidation of British power in India.
• Promoted western education and infrastructure improvements.

9. Lord Amherst (1823–1828)

• His term witnessed the First Burmese War (1824–1826).
• The costly conflict led to criticism and his eventual recall.

10. Lord William Bentinck (1828–1835)

• Introduced major social and administrative reforms.
• Abolished Sati (1829) and suppressed Thuggee (banditry).
• Promoted western education through Macaulay’s Minute (1835) and the English Education Act.
• Considered one of the most reformist Governor-Generals.

11. Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835–1836) (Acting)

• Known as the “Liberator of the Press” for removing restrictions on the Indian press.

12. Lord Auckland (1836–1842)

• His term was dominated by the First Afghan War (1838–1842), which ended disastrously for the British.

13. Lord Ellenborough (1842–1844)

• Restored British prestige after the Afghan debacle.
• Annexed Sindh (1843) into British India.
• Promoted the restoration of ancient monuments, including the Gates of Somnath.

14. Lord Hardinge I (1844–1848)

• Supported Indian princes and modernised the army.
• His rule witnessed the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846), leading to British control over parts of Punjab.

15. Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856)

• Implemented the Doctrine of Lapse, annexing several princely states.
• Introduced vast infrastructure reforms — railways, telegraph, and postal systems.
• Introduced modern education policies and public works.
• His annexation policies and social reforms contributed indirectly to the Revolt of 1857.

16. Lord Canning (1856–1858)

• The last Governor-General under East India Company rule.
• Oversaw the Revolt of 1857, which led to the end of Company rule.
• After 1858, he became the first Viceroy of India under the British Crown.

Governors-General and Viceroys Under British Crown Rule (1858–1947)

1. Lord Canning (1858–1862)

• Continued as first Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
• Implemented the Queen’s Proclamation (1858), transferring authority from the East India Company to the British Crown.
• Introduced policies of conciliation and reform after the rebellion.

2. Lord Elgin I (1862–1863)

• Died in office while travelling in the Himalayas.

3. Sir John Lawrence (1864–1869)

• Promoted development of public works, irrigation, and infrastructure.
• Maintained peace on the northwestern frontier.

4. Lord Mayo (1869–1872)

• Established the Rajputana States Agency and reformed finances.
• Founded the Mayo College at Ajmer for Indian nobility.
• Assassinated in the Andaman Islands in 1872.

5. Lord Northbrook (1872–1876)

• Focused on financial stability and administrative efficiency.
• Resigned over disagreements regarding Afghan policy.

6. Lord Lytton (1876–1880)

• Oversaw the Second Afghan War (1878–1880).
• Implemented the Vernacular Press Act (1878) restricting Indian press freedom.
• Organised the Delhi Durbar (1877) proclaiming Queen Victoria as Empress of India.

7. Lord Ripon (1880–1884)

• Known as the “Father of Local Self-Government.”
• Repealed the Vernacular Press Act.
• Introduced the Ilbert Bill (1883) allowing Indian judges to try European defendants (later diluted due to opposition).

8. Lord Dufferin (1884–1888)

• Promoted expansion in Burma after the Third Burmese War (1885–1886).
• Supported the emergence of the Indian National Congress (founded 1885).

9. Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894)

• Enacted the Indian Councils Act (1892) expanding legislative representation.
• Established the Durand Line (1893) as the boundary between British India and Afghanistan.

10. Lord Elgin II (1894–1899)

• Faced severe famines and the rise of nationalist movements.

11. Lord Curzon (1899–1905)

• Introduced wide-ranging administrative reforms.
• Divided Bengal in 1905, sparking massive protests and the Swadeshi Movement.
• Restored historical monuments such as the Taj Mahal and established the Archaeological Survey of India.

12. Lord Minto II (1905–1910)

• Passed the Indian Councils Act (1909) introducing separate electorates for Muslims.
• His tenure saw the strengthening of communal divisions in Indian politics.

13. Lord Hardinge II (1910–1916)

• Reversed Bengal Partition in 1911.
• Transferred the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.
• Hosted the Delhi Durbar of 1911 to welcome King George V.

14. Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921)

• Introduced the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919) expanding provincial self-government.
• Faced the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) and the rise of Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement.

15. Lord Reading (1921–1926)

• Oversaw a period of political unrest and trials of national leaders.
• Promoted financial reforms and attempted conciliation with Indian leaders.

16. Lord Irwin (1926–1931)

• Launched the Simon Commission (1927) and the First Round Table Conference (1930).
• Signed the Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931), marking a truce in the civil disobedience movement.

17. Lord Willingdon (1931–1936)

• Suppressed nationalist movements after the failure of Round Table Conferences.
• Oversaw the introduction of the Government of India Act (1935).

18. Lord Linlithgow (1936–1943)

• Viceroy during World War II.
• His term witnessed the Quit India Movement (1942) and growing demands for independence.

19. Lord Wavell (1943–1947)

• Attempted political negotiations between the Congress and the Muslim League.
• Convened the Simla Conference (1945) which failed to achieve consensus.

20. Lord Mountbatten (1947–1948)

• The last Viceroy of India.
• Oversaw the partition of British India into India and Pakistan on 15 August 1947.
• Continued as the first Governor-General of independent India until June 1948.