List of Governor Generals & Viceroy of India
MODERN INDIAN HISTORY
GOVERNOR GENERALS AND VICEROYS
Timeline Overview
- 1774 – 1833: Governor General of Bengal
- 1833 – 1858: Governor General of India
- 1858 – 1947: Viceroys
GOVERNOR GENERALS OF BENGAL
WARREN HASTINGS (1773-1785)
- Became Governor of Bengal in 1772 and then the 1st Governor General of Bengal through the Regulating Act of 1773.
- Supreme Court at Fort William was established in 1774.
- Act of 1781: Powers of jurisdiction between the governor-general-in-council and the Supreme Court were clearly divided.
- Pitt’s India Act of 1784.
- Strained relationships with Chait Singh (Maharaja of Benaras) led to Hastings’ impeachment in England.
- Founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) with William Jones.
Reformative Actions:
- Established Diwani and Fauzdari adalats at the district level and Sadar Diwani and Nizamat adalats at Calcutta.
- Abolished the dual government established by Robert Clive.
- Translation of Sanskrit code to English in 1776 as the “Code of Gentoo laws.”
- Divided Bengal into districts and appointed collectors and revenue officials.
Repressive Actions:
- Second Mysore War (1780-84).
- The Rohilla War of 1774.
- Treaty of Salbai (1782).
- The First Maratha War (1775-82).
LORD CORNWALLIS (1786-1793)
- Known as the “Father of Civil Services in India” due to the Europeanisation of administrative machinery.
Reformative Actions:
- Created the post of district judge.
- Separation of revenue administration and civil jurisdiction.
- First person to codify laws as Cornwallis Code (1793).
- Introduced the Permanent Settlement of Bengal in 1793.
Repressive Actions:
- Third Mysore War (1790-92) and Treaty of Seringapatam (1792).
SIR JOHN SHORE (1793-1798)
- Introduced the 1st Charter Act of 1793.
- Battle of Kharda between the Nizam and the Marathas in 1795.
LORD WELLESLEY (1798-1805)
- Original Name: Richard Colley Wellesley.
- Established Fort William College at Calcutta in 1800.
- Madras Presidency was formed in 1801.
Reformative Actions:
- Started the policy of the Subsidiary Alliance System in 1798 (First alliance was with the Nizam of Hyderabad).
- Took over the administration of Tanjore (1799), Surat (1800), and Carnatic (1801).
- Treaty of Bassein (1802).
- Second Maratha War (1803-05).
- Fourth Mysore War (1799).
SIR GEORGE BARLOW (1805-1807)
- Vellore Mutiny (1806) happened during his tenure.
LORD MINTO I (1807-1813)
- Treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh (1809).
- Charter Act of 1813 was passed.
LORD HASTINGS (1813-1823)
- Adopted the policy of intervention and war.
- Strife with Pindaris (1817-1818) and destruction of the Pindari Clan.
- Establishment of Ryotwari System by Thomas Munro (1820) and Mahalwari System in Northern India (1822).
Repressive Actions:
- Third Maratha War (1817-19) and dissolution of Maratha Confederacy.
- Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16) and Treaty of Sagauli (1816).
- Creation of Bombay Presidency (1818).
- Treaty with Sindhia (1817).
LORD AMHERST (1823-1828)
- Establishment of Sanskrit College at Calcutta (1824).
- First Burmese War (1824-1826) and Treaty of Yandabo (1826).
- Capture of Bharatpur (1826).
GOVERNOR GENERALS OF INDIA
LORD WILLIAM BENTINCK (1828-1835)
- Most liberal and enlightened Governor General.
- Served as GG of Bengal until 1833; became the 1st Governor General of India via the Charter Act of 1833.
- Regarded as “Father of modern western education in India.”
Reformative Actions:
- Abolition of Sati and other cruel rites (1829).
- Resolution of 1835: Introduction of English as the official language (Macaulay’s minutes).
- Suppression of Thugi (1830).
- Charter Act of 1833 (Non-discrimination in public employment).
Repressive Actions:
- Annexation of Mysore (1831), Coorg (1834), and Central Cachar (1834).
- Treaty of ‘perpetual friendship’ with Ranjit Singh (1831).
LORD METCALFE (1835-1836)
- Known as the “Liberator of press in India” for removing restrictions.
- Established Calcutta Public Library in 1836.
LORD AUCKLAND (1836-1842)
- Reformative: Abolished slavery in 1843 (Note: The act was passed during his transition/Ellonborough's start).
- Repressive: End of Afghan War; Annexation of Sindh (1843); War with Gwalior (1843).
LORD ELLENBOROUGH (1842-1844)
- Death of Ranjit Singh (1839) occurred just prior to/during this era.
- First Afghan War (1838-42) concluded.
- Bank of Bombay established (1840).
LORD HARDINGE I (1844-1848)
- Reformative: Abolition of female infanticide and human sacrifice. Established Roorkee Engineering College (1847).
- Repressive: First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46) and Treaty of Lahore (1846).
LORD DALHOUSIE (1848-1856)
- Original Name: James Andrew Brown Ramsay.
- Railway Minute of 1853: 1st passenger train (Bombay to Thane).
- Telegraph and Postal reforms (Post Office Act, 1854).
- Ganges Canal declared open (1854).
Reformative Actions:
- “Wood’s Educational Despatch” (1854).
- Widow Remarriage Act (1856).
- Establishment of Public Works Department (PWD).
Repressive Actions:
- Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) and annexation of Punjab.
- 2nd Anglo-Burmese War (1852).
- Santhal Rebellion (1855).
VICEROYS OF INDIA
LORD CANNING (1856-1862)
- 1st Viceroy of India after the Government of India Act 1858.
- Revolt of 1857 happened during his tenure.
Reformative Actions:
- Establishment of universities at Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay (1857).
- Formation of Imperial Civil Services.
- Archaeological Survey of India (1861).
- System of Budget and Portfolio System introduced.
Repressive Actions:
- Crushing the Revolt of 1857.
- Indigo Revolt (1859-60).
LORD JOHN LAWRENCE (1864-1869)
- Establishment of Shimla as India's summer capital (1863).
- Bhutan War (1865).
- Allahabad High Court set up (1866).
LORD MAYO (1869-1872)
- Assassinated during his tenure in the Andamans.
- Started financial decentralization.
- Established Statistical Survey of India and Dept. of Agriculture.
- Opened Mayo College (Ajmer) and Rajkot College.
LORD LYTTON (1876-1880)
- Repressive Actions:
- Vernacular Press Act (1878).
- Arms Act (1878).
- Decreased maximum age for ICS from 21 to 16 years.
- Second Afghan War (1878-80).
- Royal Titles Act (1876): Queen Victoria became ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’.
LORD RIPON (1880-1884)
- Known as “Father of Local Self-governance in India.”
- Reformative: Repealed Vernacular Press Act (1882); First Factory Act (1881); First complete census (1881); Hunter Commission (1882).
- Ilbert Bill controversy (1883-84).
LORD CURZON (1899-1905)
- Partition of Bengal (1905).
- Official Secrets Act (1904).
- Ancient Monuments Preservation Act (1904).
- Appointment of Police Commission (1902) and Universities Commission (1902).
LORD CHELMSFORD (1916-1921)
- Home Rule Movement (1916).
- Lucknow Pact (1916).
- Launch of Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad Satyagrahas.
- Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919).
- Rowlatt Act and Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre (1919).
LORD IRWIN (1926-1931)
- Visit of Simon Commission (1928).
- Dandi March (1930) and Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).
- Execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev (1931).
LORD MOUNTBATTEN (1947-1948)
- June Third Plan announced for partition.
- Partition of Bengal and Punjab via Radcliff Commission.
- Became the 1st Governor General of the Dominion of India.
