Governor Generals of Bengal

Warren Hastings (1773-1785)

In 1772, Warren Hastings became the Governor of Bengal. The British Parliament, already aware of the East India Company's activities in India and its corruption, passed an act in 1773 (Regulating Act, 1773). The act allowed the Company to govern the Indian territories under the supervision of Parliament. With this, the Governor was elevated to the title of Governor-General. Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of India. He abolished the diarchy in Bengal. It was during his time that the Supreme Court was established in Calcutta (1774) and the Quinquennial Settlement was implemented. The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal was established to conduct research into Indian history and culture. The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded in 1784 by Sir William Jones. It was during Warren Hastings's tenure as Governor-General that Pitt's India Act (1784) was passed. This act established complete British control over the Company's administration. He remained in that position until 1785. Hastings was able to extend British rule to many parts of India.

Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)

Lord Cornwallis, who was appointed to replace Warren Hastings in 1786 , remained Governor-General of Bengal until 1793. He is the only person to have been Governor-General of Bengal twice. He served as the commander of the British army during the American War of Independence. He was the one who signed the Treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1792. He established the Permanent Land Tax System ( 1793) . He was the first to codify Indian laws in 1793. He introduced the Cornwallis Code to separate the revenue administration and the judicial system. He classified the courts into grades and established district courts. Lord Cornwallis was also the one who established criminal courts in India. Lord Cornwallis was the first ruler to introduce the ' police system ' in India . Therefore, he is known as the father of the Indian police system. Lord Cornwallis is also known as the father of the Indian civil service. Jonathan Duncan Banaras Sanskrit College ( 1791) was founded by Lord Cornwallis when he was the Governor-General of Bengal. He was the first Governor-General of Bengal to die in office. Lord Cornwallis's final resting place is Ghazipur on the banks of the Ganges.

Sir John Shore (1793 - 1798)

The first Charter Act came into force in 1793. The policy of non-intervention was implemented. John Shore was the Governor General of Bengal when the Battle of Kharda was fought between the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Richard Wellesley (1798-1805)

He called himself the ' Tiger of Bengal ' . He was known as the ' Akbar of British India ' . He played a major role in establishing the Madras Presidency. He banned infanticide in 1802. He introduced the subsidiary alliance in 1798. Hyderabad (Nizam) was the first Indian princely state to sign the subsidiary alliance. The Fourth Mysore War took place. Fort William College was established in Calcutta. The Second Anglo-Maratha War ( 1803–05). The British and Peshwa Bajirao II signed the Treaty of Bassein.

George Barlow (1805 - 1807)

George Barlow was the Governor-General of Bengal when the Vellore Mutiny of 1806 took place. In 1807 , he abolished the slave trade in India.

Minto I (1807 - 1813)

Minto I was the Governor-General of Bengal when the Treaty of Amritsar was signed in 1809. The Treaty of Amritsar was signed by Raja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab.

Lord Hastings (1813 - 1823)

Mahalwari system was introduced in the northwestern regions of India and Ryotwari system in Madras. When Ryotwari system, a land tax system, was introduced in Madras in 1820 , Thomas Munro was the Governor of Madras. Nepal (Kathmandu) was conquered . The Peshwa title was abolished. Bombay Presidency came into existence. Pune was annexed to Bombay. Christian missionaries started Serampore College ( 1818). Anglo-Nepalese War ( 1814-16). Feudalism was implemented. The Pindars, a major bandit group in North India, were suppressed.

Amherst (1823 - 1828)

Sanskrit College established in Calcutta ( 1824). First Burmese War ( 1824-1826). Treaty of Yandabo ( 1826). Conquest of Malay Peninsula territories. Capture of Bharatpur ( 1826).

Governors General of British India

Lord William Bentinck (1828-1835)

William Bentinck led India from the Middle Ages to modernity in administrative matters. He was known as the ' Governor-General of Bengal ' and ' Governor-General of India ' under the Charter Act of 1833. William Bentinck was the first person to become the Governor-General of British India under the Charter Act of 1833. He was known as the ' Generous Governor-General ' . He opined that "India should be governed for the Indians". He started English education in India. He replaced Persian with English as the official language. Lord Macaulay helped William Bentinck to reform the education system in India with the help of Macaulay Minutes. Macaulay Minutes is known as the milestone of Indian education. Lord Bentinck is known as the ' father of modern English education ' in India . He regulated the opium trade and introduced licensing. ' Sati ' was banned by law in 1829. Thugs (robbery gangs) were suppressed ( 1831). He annexed Kodagu to the British Empire. He appointed the first Law Commission to codify Indian laws ( 1834). He suppressed the Narkal Beria rebellion led by Titumir. He established the first medical college in India in Calcutta in 1835 .

Charles Metcalfe (1835-1836)

Charles Metcalfe was the temporary Governor-General in 1835. Charles Metcalfe was considered the liberator of the Indian press during the nationalist movement. He allowed complete freedom of the press in India. Therefore, he was known as the ' Liberator of the Press ' . He was the Governor-General during the Gumsur Rebellion of 1835 .

Lord Auckland (1836 - 1842)

The First Afghan War took place during the reign of Lord Auckland. The First Afghan War came to be known as ' Auckland's Folly ' . In 1838 , he issued the Simla Manifesto.

Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844)

Lord Ellenborough, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Lord Auckland in 1842, remained Governor-General of India for two and a half years until 1844. It was during Lord Ellenborough's tenure that slavery was made illegal in India. In 1843 , an act was passed declaring slavery illegal in British India. Lord Ellenborough is best known for his conquest of Sindh. During his time, the Sindh region was annexed to British India.

Henry Hardinge I (1844-1848)

Government jobs were restricted to those with English education . Human sacrifice among the tribal Khonds was suppressed. The Khonds revolted in Orissa in protest against the British. The First Anglo-Sikh War took place. The Treaty of Lahore was signed.

Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856)

Known as the creator of modern India. The youngest Governor-General of British India. He introduced railway transport for the first time in India. He was the Governor-General when the Charter Act ( 1853) and the Forest Charter Act ( 1855) were enacted. He started the modern postal system and telegraph. He started the Public Works Department. He implemented the Prohibition of Adoption Act. He established one of the first engineering colleges in India, Thomson College (later to become IIT Roorkee). He appointed the ' Woods Education Commission ' for educational reforms . The Woods Despatch ( 1854) is known as the ' Magna Carta ' of Indian education . He drafted the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act. The Second Anglo-Sikh War ( 1848-49), the Second Burmese War ( 1848-49), and the Santal Rebellion ( 1855-56) took place. Dalhousie has been called the ' father of modern India ', the ' father of the Indian Telegraph ', the ' father of Indian Railways ', the ' father of the Indian Postal System ', and the ' father of Indian Engineering Services'.

Lord Canning (1856-1858)

Lord Canning, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Lord Dalhousie in 1856 , served as Governor-General of India for two years until 1858 and then as Viceroy of India until 1862. It was during his tenure as Governor-General that universities were established in Calcutta , Bombay and Madras. The first university in India was the University of Calcutta ( 1857). He was known as ' Clemency Canning ' . The first Indian War of Independence in 1857 took place during his reign.