Governor Generals of India and Important Events

While the British ruled India, the head of the British administration in India was the
Governor General and Viceroy of India.
The Regulating Act of 1773 created the office with the title of Governor-General of
the Presidency of Fort William, or Governor-General of Bengal to be appointed
by the Court of Directors of the East India Company (EIC).
The Court of Directors of EIC also created a Council of Four (based in India) to assist
The Governor General, and the decision of the council was binding on Governor
General during 1773-1784.
Complete authority over all of British India was granted in 1833 and the official
became known as the Governor-General of India. And in 1858, India came under the
direct control of the British Crown.
The Saint Helena Act 1833 (or Government of India Act 1833) re-designated the
office with the title of Governor-General of India.
To reflect the Governor General`s role as representative from the monarch to the
feudal rulers of the princely states, the term Viceroy of India was applied to him.
After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the company rule was brought to an end, and the
British India along with princely states came under the direct rule of the Crown.
The Government of India Act 1858 created the office of Secretary of State for
India in 1858 to oversee the affairs of India, which was advised by a new Council of
India with 15 members (based in London).

Following the adoption of the Government of India Act of 1858, the Governor-
General as representing the Crown became known as the Viceroy.
The title remained in existence from 1858 till 1947, when India became independent
in 1947. The office of Governor-General continued to exist until India adopted a
republican constitution in 1950.
Governors (17581774), Gov Gen of Bengal (17741833), Gov Gen of India (183358)
List of British Governor Generals and Viceroys During British
Period in India & The Most Important Events During Their
Reign:
Name
S.N Took Left
(birth Happenings
. office office
death)
Governors of Bengal, 17731833
1 Warren 20 1 Regulating Act of 1773
Hastings October February Supreme Court at Calcutta
(17321818) 1773 1785 Asiatic Society of Bengal
Dual government system to an end
Zamindars were given judicial powers
establishment of civil and criminal
courts in each district
He was the appointed as the Governor
General of Fort William, but he
exercised control over East India
 Company officials all over India.
Pitt's India Act The East India
Company Act 1784 East India
Company's rule in India under the
control of the British Government

Established lower courts and appellate

courts
Sanskrit College established by
Jonathan Duncan
Permanent Settlement in Bihar and
Bengal in 1793 (The land was given on
permanent basis to the zamindar in
1793, instead of giving it to the highest
The Earl 12 28 bidder each year. This system got
2 Cornwallis Septembe October prosperity to both the Company and
(17381805) r 1786 1793 zamindar had the cost of the common
peasantry.)
Introduction of Cornwallis Code based
on the principle of separation of
powers
Zamindars divested of all police powers
Introduction of Civil Services in India
father of modern police administration
in India establishment of the thanas
First civil servant to become Governor-
28
Sir John Shore 18 March General
3 October
(17511834) 1798 Policy of Non-intervention
1793
Charter Act of 1793
Introduction of Subsidiary Alliance
The first state to accept the Subsidiary
Alliance was the State of Hyderabad
Created Madras Presidency after
the annexation of the Kingdoms
of Tanjore and Carnatic
The Marquess
18 May 30 July Fourth Anglo-Mysore War 1799
4 Wellesley
1798 1805 Fort William College at Calcutta
(17601842)
Father of the Civil Services in India
Lord Lake captured Delhi and
Agra in 1803 and the Mughal
emperor was put under
companys protection

10 The Marquess 4 October 9 January Ended the policy of Non-intervention

of Hastings 1813 1823 Third Anglo-Maratha War (1816-1818)
(17541826) Creation of Bombay Presidency in 1818
Establishment of Ryotwari System in
Madras(introduced by Thomas Munro
in 1820)( ownership rights were
handed over to the peasants. British
Govt. collected taxes directly from
 peasants
Charter Act 1833
known as the Liberal Governor General.
outlawed the practice of Sati (1829)
suppressed female infanticide and child
and human sacrifice
reform in the Hindu Law of Inheritance
Suppression of Thuggee in central India
(1830)
Lord William
4 July introduced English education in India
14 Bentinck 1833
1828 Made English the medium of higher
(17741839)
education in the country (after the
recommendations of Macaulay) English
Education Act 1835
appointment of Indians as subordinate
judges
Established first Medical College in
Calcutta in 1835

Governors-General of India, 18331858

Lord William
20 March
14 Bentinck 1833
1835
(17741839)
Sir Charles
Abolished restriction on press.
Metcalfe, Bt 20 March 4 March Called Liberator of press
15
(acting) 1835 1836
(17851846)
20 The Marquess 12 28 Described as both the Destroyer
of Dalhousie January February and saviour of Company in India
(18121860) 1848 1856 Often quoted as designer of
modern India
He was the youngest Governor General
of India. He assumed charge at age of
36
Doctrine of Lapse
Introduced Woods Dispatch known as
Magna Carta of English Education in
India prepared by Charles Wood. It
suggested a scheme of education from
Primary to University level
1st Railway line connecting
Bombay and Thane and second
from Calcutta to Raniganj
Post Office Act, 1854 Postage
stamp were issued for the first time
First telegraph line from Calcutta to Agra
Abolition of titles and pensions
Started Competitive examination for
Indian Civil Services
Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856
 Made Shimla the summer capital and
army headquarter
Established Public Works
Department Started work on Grand
Trunk Road and developed the
Harbours at Karachi, Bombay, and
Calcutta to receive large maritime ships
two canals (1854), upper Ganga canal, in
western Uttar Pradesh (originating in
Haridwar) and Baridoad canal in Punjab
were constructed
Engineering College was
established at Roorkee
The last Governor General and the first
Viceroy
University of Bombay, Calcutta
and Madras were set up in 1857
The revolt of 1857
The Government of India Act,
1858
Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse.
Indian Councils Act was passed in 1861
The Viscount 28 1 (it introduced the paper currency
21 Canning February November system in India)
Regressive laws, such as Criminal
(18121862) 1856 1858
Procedure Codes (CrPC) and Indian
Penal Codes (IPC) were introduced
Introduction of new tax such as income
tax, on experimental basis in 1859
Two arms of British administration
originated (Secretary of State of India,
Viceroy and Governor General of India
to look after the administration of
India)
Lord Stanley first Secretary of State India
Governors-General and Viceroys of India, 18581947
The Earl 1
21 March
21 Canning November
1862
(18121862) 1858
Telegraphic communication was
opened with Europe.
Sir John 12 12
High Courts were established at
Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in
25 Lawrence, Bt January January
1865.
(18111879) 1864 1869
Created the Indian Forest
department.
known as the Savior of Punjab.
26 The Earl of 12 8 Started the process of financial
Mayo January February decentralization in India.
(18221872) 1869 1872 For the first time in Indian
 history, a census was held in
1871.
Organised the Statistical Survey
of India.
Was the only Viceroy to be
murdered in office by a Pathan
convict Sher Ali in the Andamans
in 1872.
Introduction of State Railways
Known as the Viceroy to reverse
characters.
Most infamous Governor General
Perused free trade and abolished duties
on 29 British manufactured goods
which accelerated drain of wealth of
India
Organised the Grand Delhi
Durbar in 1877 to decorate
Queen Victoria with the title of
Kaiser I Hind when the country
was suffering from a severe famine
The Lord Arms act (1878) made it
12 April 8 June mandatory for Indians to acquire
30 Lytton
1876 1880 license for arms.
(18311891)
Passed the infamous Vernacular
Press act (1878) which
empowered a magistrate to call
upon the printer and publisher
of any vermacular newspaper
to enter in into an undertaking
not to publish any news which
would create antipathy against
the government
Lowered the Maximum limits from 21 to
19 for civil services an attempt to
prevent Indians from entering
Civil Services
31 The Marquess 8 June 13 Liberal person, who sympathized
of Ripon 1880 December with Indians.
(18271909) 1884 Repeated the Vernacular Press
act (1882)
Passed the local self government
act (1882) Father of LSG
Took steps to improve primary &
secondary education (on William
Hunter Commissions
recommendations).
The I Factory act, 1881, aimed at
prohibiting child labour.
Passed the libert Bill (1883)
 which enabled Indian district
magistrates to try European
criminals. But this was
withdrawn later.
Age for the entry in Civil Service exam
was raised to 21 years.
The first complete and synchronous
census of British Territories in India was
conducted in 1881 during his period
total population at the figure
254 millions
Indian National Congress was
The Earl of 13 10 formed during his tenure.
32 Dufferin December December Commented on the Congress
(18261902) 1884 1888 being a microscope minority in
1888
II Factory act (1891) granted a
weekly holiday and stipulated
working hours for women and
children, although it failed to
address concerns such as work
hours for men.
Categorization of Civil Services
The Marquess 10 11 into Imperial, Provincial and
33 of Lansdowne December October Subordinate.
(18451927) 1888 1894 Indian Council act of 1892 was
passed.
Appointment of Durand
Commission to define the line
between British India and
Afghanistan.
passed the Age of Consent Act in
1891 which forbade marriage
of girl below 12
35 The Lord 6 January 18 Passed the Indian Universities
Curzon of 1899 November act (1904) in which official
Kedleston 1905 control over the Universities was
(18591925) increased.
Partitioned Bengal (October 16,
1905) into two provinces Bengal
(proper) & East Bengal & Assam.
launch of Swadeshi Movement
Appointed a Police Commission
under Sir Andrew Frazer to
enquire into the police
administration of every province.
It recommended for
enhancement in salaries and
creation of a department of
Criminal intelligence
 The risings of the frontier tribes
in 1897 98 led him to create
the North Western Frontier
Province (NWFP).
Passed the Ancient Monuments
Protection act (1904), to restore
Indias cultural heritage. Thus
the Archaeological Survey of
India was established.
Passed the Indian Coinage and
Paper Currency act (1899) and
put India on a gold standard.
Extended railways to a great
extent.
Department of agriculture was
established in 1901
There was great political unrest
in India. Various acts were
passed to curb the revolutionary
activities. Extremists like Lala
Laipat Rai and Ajit Singh (in
May, 1907) and Bal Gangadhar
The Earl of 18 23
Tilak (in July, 1908) were sent to
36 Minto November November
Mandalay jail in Burma.
(18451914) 1905 1910
The Indian Council act of 1909 or
the Morley Minto Reforms was
passed which provided for separate
electorate to Muslims
the first Indian member of the Viceroy's
Executive Council in 1909 : SP Sinha
Held a durbar in December, 1911
to celebrate the coronation of
King George V.
Partition of Bengal was cancelled
(1911), capital shifted from
Calcutta to Delhi (1911).
A bomb was thrown at him; but
The Lord he escaped unhurt (Rash Bihari
23
Hardinge of Bose 1912).
37 November
4 April 1916
Penshurst Gandhi ji came back to India
1910
(18581944) from South Africa (1915).
Annie Besant announced the
Home Rule Movement.
Banaras Hindu Universities was
founded in 1916 by Madan
Mohan Malviya.
Tilak founded the Home Rule
league in 1916
38 The Lord 4 April 2 April 1921 August Declaration of 1917,
 whereby control over the Indian
government would be gradually
transferred to the Indian people.
The government of India act in
1919 (Montague Chelmsford
reforms) was passed which
introduced dyarchy in the provincess.
Rowlatt act of 1919(indefinite
Chelmsford
1916 detention, incarceration without trial
(18681933)
and judicial review); Jallianwala
Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919).
Non Cooperation Movement.
An Indian Sir S.P.Sinha was
appointed the Governor of
Bengal.
A Womens university was
founded at Poona in 1916..
Rowlatt act was repeated along
with the Press act of 1910.
Suppressed non cooperation
movement.
Prince of Wales visited India in
November, 1921.
Moplah rebellion (1921) took
place in Kerala.
The Earl of
Vishwabharati University started
2 April 3 April functioning in 1922.
39 Reading
1921 1926 Communist part was founded in
(18601935)
1921 by M.N. Roy.
Kakory Train Robbery on August
9, 1925.
Communal riots of 1923 25 in
Multan, Amritsar, Delhi, etc.
Swami Shraddhanand, a great
nationalist and a leader of the
Arya Samajists, was murdered in
communal orgy.
40 The Lord Irwin 3 April 18 April Simon Commission visited India
(18811959) 1926 1931 in 1928.
Congress passed the Indian
Resolution in 1929.
Dandi March (March 12, 1930).
Civil Disobedience Movement
(1930).
First Round Table Conference
held in England in 1930.
Gandhi Irwin Pact (March 5,
1931) was signed and Civil
 Disobediance Movement was
withdrawn.
Martydorm of Jatin Das after 64
days hunger strike (1929).
Second Round Table conference
in London in 1931.
On his return Gandhi ji was
again arrested and Civil
Disobedience Movement was
resumed in January, 1932.
Communal Awards (August 16,
The Earl of
18 April 1932) assigned seats to different
41 Willingdon 18 pril 1936
1931 religious communities. Gandhi ji
(18661941)
went on a epic fast in protest
against this division.
Third Round Table conference in
1932.
Poona Pact was signed.
Government of India act (1935)
was passed
Government of India act
enforced in the provinces.
Congress ministries formed in 8
out of 11 provinces. They
remained in power for about 2
years till October 1939, when
they gave up offices on the issue
of India having been dragged
into the II World War. The
Muslim League observed the
days as Deliverance Say (22
December)
The Marquess
18 April October Churchill became the British PM
42 of Linlithgow
1936 1943 in May, 1940. He declared that
(18871952)
the Atlantic Charter (issued
jointly by the UK and US, stating
to give sovereign rights to those
who have been forcibly deprived
of them) does not apply to India.
Outbreak of World War II in
1939.
Cripps Mission (to secure full Indian
cooperation and support for their
efforts in World War II) in 1942.
Quit India Movement (August 8,
1942).
43 The Viscount 1 October21 February Wavell Plan (setting up of a new
Wavell 1943 1947 Executive council with only Indian
(18831950) members. The Viceroy and the
 Commander in chief would be the
only non-Indian members of the
council Caste Hindus and-
Muslims would have equal
representation the executive would
work within the existing
constitution)

Arranged the Shimla Conference

on June 25, 1945 with Indian
National Congress and Muslim
League; failed.
Cabinet Mission Plan (May 16,
1946)( three Cabinet Ministers, Lord
Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps
and Mr. A. V. Alexander).
Elections to the constituent
assembly were held and an
Interim Government was
appointed under Nehru.
First meeting of the constituent
assembly was held on December
9, 1946.
Last Viceroy of British India and
the first Governor General of free
India.
Partition of India decided by the
June 3 Plan.
The Viscount Indian Independence Act passed
21
Mountbatten of 15 August by the British parliament on July
44 February 4, 1947, by which India became
Burma 1947
1947 independent on August 15,
(19001979)
1947(Because it was the second
anniversary of Japans surrender).
Retried in June 1948 and was
succeeded by C. Rajagopalachari
(the first and the last Indian
Governor General of free India).
Governors-General of the Dominion of India, 19471950
Viscount
Mountbatten of 15 August 21 June
44
Burma 1947 1948
(19001979)
C.
26
Rajagopalachar 21 June
45 January
i 1948
1950
(18781972)
Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army (19471955) Chief of the Army Staff
(1955present)

Appointment Unit of
No. Name Rank Photo Left Office Decorations
Date Commission
31
15 August KCB, CIE,
1 Rob Lockhart* General December 51st Sikhs
1947 MC
1947
15 January Cameronians KBE, CB,
2 Roy Bucher* General 1 January 1948
1949 (Scottish Rifles) MC

General
16 January 14 January
3 K M Cariappa (later Field Rajput Regiment OBE
1949 1953
Marshal)

2nd Lancers
Rajendrasinhji 14 January 1 April
4 General (Gardner's DSO[4]
Jadeja (1st COAS) 1953 1955
Horse)