Name

Term

Notable Events

Warren Hastings

20 October 1773 – 1 February 1785

- First Governor-General of Bengal, appointed under the Regulating Act of 1773.
‎- Fought the Rohilla War (1774); aimed to impose Company influence over Rohilkhand in the Ganges–Yamuna Doab.
‎- Reorganized revenue collection through the Board of Revenue at Calcutta; introduced civil and criminal courts under Company oversight.
‎- Supported founding of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) with Sir William Jones, encouraging Oriental studies and translations of Sanskrit texts.
‎- Clashed with Council member Philip Francis over policy; famously duelled with Francis in 1780.
‎- After returning to Britain, faced impeachment (1788–1795) for alleged abuses of power; ultimately acquitted.

Sir John Macpherson (Acting)

1 February 1785 – 12 September 1786

- Took office upon Hastings’ departure; strove to reduce expenses and keep the peace.
‎- Maintained existing revenue systems, avoiding bold reforms or military campaigns.
‎- Ensured a smooth transition for Cornwallis’s arrival, emphasizing continuity rather than new policy.

Charles Cornwallis

12 September 1786 – 28 October 1793

- Introduced the Permanent Settlement (1793), designating zamindars as hereditary landholders responsible for revenue.
‎- Led the Third Anglo–Mysore War (1790–1792), compelling Tipu Sultan to cede territory and pay indemnities.
‎- Issued the Cornwallis Code, reforming the judicial system and creating separate civil and criminal courts; also raised salaries for Company officials to combat corruption.
‎- Restricted Indians from higher ranks in the civil service, believing these posts should be held by Europeans.

Sir John Shore

28 October 1793 – 18 March 1798

- Favoured non-intervention in princely states; refrained from large-scale conquests or annexations.
‎- Avoided entanglement in the Battle of Kharda (1795) between the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, maintaining neutrality.
‎- Consolidated parts of the Permanent Settlement system introduced by Cornwallis, focusing on revenue stability rather than further expansion.

Alured Clarke (Acting)

18 March 1798 – 18 May 1798

- Served briefly after Shore’s departure; continued non-interference policies.
‎- Formerly Commander-in-Chief in India; maintained administrative continuity until Wellesley’s arrival.

Richard Wellesley

18 May 1798 – 30 July 1805

- Led the Fourth Anglo–Mysore War (1799), culminating in Tipu Sultan’s death at Seringapatam.
‎- Created the Subsidiary Alliance system, making Indian princes accept British troops and control in return for “protection.”
‎- Founded Fort William College (1800) to train East India Company servants in local languages.
‎- Annexed parts of the Carnatic and the Deccan; emerged as a key architect of British territorial expansion in India.

Charles Cornwallis (2nd time)

30 July 1805 – 5 October 1805

- Returned to resolve disputes with the Marathas but died at Ghazipur shortly after arrival.
‎- Due to brevity of tenure, enacted no major new policies or campaigns.

Sir George Barlow (Acting)

10 October 1805 – 31 July 1807

- Reversed many of Wellesley’s expansionist approaches; sought to limit expenses through non-intervention.
‎- Faced the Vellore Mutiny (1806), an early sepoy uprising triggered by new military dress regulations and other resentments.
‎- Reduced several alliances with local states to slash costs, drawing criticism from expansionists.

Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto

31 July 1807 – 4 October 1813

- Strengthened British ties with Persia and Afghanistan to pre-empt a possible French incursion during the Napoleonic Wars.
‎- Supervised the takeover of Java (1811) from Dutch control, extending British influence into Southeast Asia.
‎- Focused on maritime security and naval strategy in the Indian Ocean; continued consolidating British authority in Indian states.

Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings

4 October 1813 – 9 January 1823

- Formerly Earl of Moira.
‎- Led the Third Anglo–Maratha War (1817–1818), dismantling Maratha power and annexing vast territories for the Company.
‎- Subdued the Pindaris, significantly reducing brigandage in Central India.
‎- Reinforced revenue systems; promoted infrastructure development such as roads and waterways.

John Adam (Acting)

9 January 1823 – 1 August 1823

- Administered a short caretaker regime; followed Hastings’ existing policies.
‎- Avoided major reforms or military campaigns due to his interim status.

William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst

1 August 1823 – 13 March 1828

- Fought the First Anglo–Burmese War (1824–1826); led to annexation of Arakan and Tenasserim.
‎- Successfully stormed Bharatpur (1826), bolstering Company prestige.
‎- War expenses heavily strained finances, prompting austerity measures; oversaw some administrative reorganization to manage debt.

William Butterworth Bayley (Acting)

13 March 1828 – 4 July 1828

- Filled the gap between Amherst’s departure and Bentinck’s arrival.
‎- Prioritized continuity in revenue collection and judicial administration; no major new legislation.

William Bentinck

4 July 1828 – 20 March 1835

- Abolished Sati (1829) by law and suppressed Thuggee (organized robber bands).
‎- Promoted Western education, emphasizing English as the medium of instruction; introduced broad social reforms benefiting women’s welfare.
‎- Implemented financial constraints to reduce Company debts, setting administrative precedents later formalized under the Charter Act of 1833.

Name

Term

Notable Events

William Bentinck

20 March 1834 – 28 March 1835

- First official Governor-General of India under the Charter Act (1833).
‎- Strengthened earlier reforms against sati and thuggee across all British territories.
‎- Expanded the judicial system with civil and session courts; encouraged the use of English in higher education institutions.

Sir Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (Acting)

20 March 1835 – 4 March 1836

- Called the “Liberator of the Indian Press” for repealing repressive press restrictions, thus encouraging the growth of vernacular newspapers.
‎- Ensured a liberal administration during his short tenure, supporting freedom of expression and minimal censorship.

George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland

4 March 1836 – 28 February 1842

- Launched the First Anglo–Afghan War (1838–1842) to restore Shah Shujah; war ended disastrously with the retreat from Kabul (1842).
‎- Directed educational efforts (e.g., building institutions) yet was hampered by war costs.
‎- Initiated negotiations leading toward eventual annexation of Sindh (finalized under Ellenborough).

Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough

28 February 1842 – 8 June 1844

- Oversaw the British withdrawal from Afghanistan, proclaiming a symbolic victory via the Somnath Gates gesture.
‎- Annexed Sindh (1843) after battles like Miani; faced criticism for aggressive expansion.
‎- Recalled over disagreements with the Board of Control in London regarding his unilateral policies.

William Wilberforce Bird (Acting)

8 June 1844 – 23 July 1844

- Brief caretaker; maintained administrative continuity between Ellenborough and Hardinge.
‎- Ensured ongoing governance without enacting major reforms or waging military campaigns.

Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge

23 July 1844 – 12 January 1848

- Led the First Anglo–Sikh War (1845–1846); concluded the Treaty of Lahore (1846), marking partial control over Punjab.
‎- Introduced some improvements in the Bengal and Madras armies; moderated official nepotism in the Company’s hierarchy.
‎- Focused on forging stable relations with the Sikh state post-war.

James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie

12 January 1848 – 28 February 1856

- Championed the Doctrine of Lapse, annexing princely states lacking a direct male heir (e.g., Satara, Jhansi).
‎- Annexed Punjab (1849) after the Second Anglo–Sikh War, and took over parts of Lower Burma (1852).
‎- Introduced railways, telegraphs, and a standardized postal system; boosted public works, including roads and canals.

Charles John Canning, 1st Earl Canning

28 February 1856 – 1 November 1858

- Last Governor-General under the East India Company.
‎- Confronted the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (Sepoy Mutiny), which toppled Company control.
‎- Transitioned power to the British Crown in late 1858, remaining in office as the first Viceroy under direct Crown rule.

Note: From 1 November 1858, India was under the direct authority of the British Crown. The office was concurrently referred to as Governor-General and Viceroy.

Name

Term

Notable Events

Charles John Canning, 1st Earl Canning

1 November 1858 – 21 March 1862

- First Viceroy of India under Queen Victoria’s proclamation; continued from his role as Governor-General.
‎- Passed the Indian Councils Act of 1861, allowing limited Indian participation in legislative councils.
‎- Implemented a policy of clemency toward many Indian rebel sepoys to stabilize the post-1857 situation, earning him the nickname “Clemency Canning.”

James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin

21 March 1862 – 20 November 1863

- Directed post-1857 restructuring, building railways, roads, and canals; consolidated British authority in provinces.
‎- Strengthened the frontier defense in the North-West; died in office at Dharamsala (1863).
‎- Enhanced the role of the public works department to boost infrastructure and internal connectivity.

Sir Robert Napier (Acting)

21 November 1863 – 2 December 1863

- Very short caretaker; previously a senior British general.
‎- Focused on continuity in governance until the next full appointment.

Sir William Denison (Acting)

2 December 1863 – 12 January 1864

- Another interim viceroy; maintained existing fiscal and military policies.
‎- Handed authority over to John Lawrence in January 1864 without initiating major legislative changes.

Sir John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence

12 January 1864 – 12 January 1869

- Celebrated for his prior “Punjab administration,” restoring order after the Sikh Wars.
‎- Focused on famine relief with canal construction, road-building, and developing irrigation networks.
‎- Adopted a cautious frontier policy with Afghanistan, preferring negotiation over warfare; improved civil services.

Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo

12 January 1869 – 8 February 1872

- Instituted financial decentralization, empowering provinces to manage budgets effectively.
‎- Improved ties with Afghanistan’s Amir; advanced telegraph and public works expansions.
‎- Founded Mayo College in Ajmer for educating Indian princes; tragically assassinated by a convict in the Andaman Islands (1872).

Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier (Acting)

9 February 1872 – 23 February 1872

- Brief caretaker; upheld Mayo’s policies in finance and administration.
‎- Focused on stable transition until the arrival of Northbrook.

John Strachey (Acting)

23 February 1872 – 3 May 1872

- Another short interim authority; oversaw routine administrative tasks.
‎- Handed responsibility to Lord Northbrook in May 1872.

Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook

3 May 1872 – 12 April 1876

- Attempted peaceful relations along the Afghan frontier; friction with the Amir led to future conflicts under his successor.
‎- Emphasized famine relief, including further canal and railway expansions.
‎- Dealt with the misrule of the Gaekwad of Baroda, eventually deposing him under allegations of corruption.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

12 April 1876 – 8 June 1880

- Hosted the Delhi Durbar (1877) proclaiming Queen Victoria as Empress of India.
‎- Confronted the Great Famine of 1876–78, criticized for continuing grain exports during the crisis.
‎- Enforced the Vernacular Press Act (1878), curtailing freedom of Indian-language newspapers.
‎- Led the Second Anglo–Afghan War (1878–1880), concluding with the Treaty of Gandamak.

George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon

8 June 1880 – 13 December 1884

- Repealed the Vernacular Press Act, restoring press freedoms.
‎- Advanced local self-government reforms and expanded municipal boards; championed greater Indian participation.
‎- Proposed the Ilbert Bill (1883) to let Indian judges try European defendants, sparking intense opposition from the British community in India.

Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava

13 December 1884 – 10 December 1888

- Oversaw the Third Anglo–Burmese War (1885), annexing Upper Burma to British India.
‎- Continued railway and telegraph expansions; confronted growing Indian nationalism, although still at an early stage.
‎- Attempted to streamline administration and promote the Indian Civil Service as a professional corps.

Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne

10 December 1888 – 11 October 1894

- Concluded the Durand Line Agreement (1893) with Afghanistan, defining the northwest frontier.
‎- Supported the Imperial Service Troops concept, where Indian princely states provided auxiliary forces.
‎- Fostered further expansion of railways, postal systems, and frontier policing to solidify British authority.

Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin

11 October 1894 – 6 January 1899

- Confronted severe famine (1896–1897) and the outbreak of bubonic plague in Bombay (1896).
‎- Organized relief commissions and quarantines, balancing budget constraints with urgent humanitarian needs.
‎- Oversaw infrastructural projects; faced occasional unrest due to plague-control measures.

George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston

6 January 1899 – 18 November 1905

- Implemented the Partition of Bengal (1905), creating Eastern Bengal and Assam; ignited massive protests and swadeshi movements.
‎- Reformed the Archaeological Survey of India, improving preservation of historic sites like the Taj Mahal.
‎- Boosted irrigation, railways, and universities; ultimately resigned due to disputes over British military funding.

Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto

18 November 1905 – 23 November 1910

- Enacted the Morley–Minto Reforms (1909), increasing Indian membership in legislative councils and introducing separate electorates for Muslims.
‎- Dealt with revolutionary violence in Bengal (e.g., bombings by groups like Anushilan Samiti); responded with repressive laws while negotiating with moderate Indian leaders.

Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst

23 November 1910 – 4 April 1916

- Hosted the Delhi Durbar (1911) to honour King George V; announced moving the capital from Calcutta to New Delhi.
‎- Survived a bombing in 1912 by Indian revolutionaries.
‎- Managed India’s significant contribution to World War I (1914–1918), deploying Indian troops to various fronts (Europe, Africa, Middle East).

Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford

4 April 1916 – 2 April 1921

- Oversaw India’s role in World War I and the demobilization thereafter.
‎- Passed the Rowlatt Acts (1919) extending wartime emergency measures, triggering nationwide protests; the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April 1919) occurred under his administration.
‎- Implemented the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919), expanding provincial legislatures’ authority.

Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading

2 April 1921 – 3 April 1926

- Faced the peak of the Non-Cooperation Movement under Gandhi; responded to the Chauri Chaura incident (1922) that led Gandhi to suspend mass protest.
‎- Wrestled with communal tensions (Hindu–Muslim) and the continued call for greater constitutional reforms.

Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Baron Irwin

3 April 1926 – 18 April 1931

- Grappled with the Simon Commission (1927) boycott by leading Indian parties demanding self-governance.
‎- Encountered the Civil Disobedience Movement led by Gandhi, most famously the Salt March (1930).
‎- Negotiated the Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931), pausing civil disobedience and facilitating Gandhi’s attendance at the Round Table Conference.

Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon

18 April 1931 – 18 April 1936

- Convened the Second and Third Round Table Conferences (1931, 1932) in London on India’s constitutional status.
‎- Oversaw the first practical steps of the Government of India Act (1935), introducing provincial autonomy (1937).
‎- Maintained tough actions against continued nationalist and civil disobedience campaigns.

Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow

18 April 1936 – 1 October 1943

- Longest-serving Viceroy; oversaw India’s entry into World War II (1939) without the support of Congress.
‎- Dealt with the resignation of Congress provincial ministries; tensions rose between British authorities and Indian nationalists.
‎- Issued the August Offer (1940), proposing limited constitutional expansion, which fell short of Indian demands.

Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell

1 October 1943 – 21 February 1947

- Confronted the Bengal Famine (1943), which caused millions of deaths amidst wartime shortages.
‎- Held the Simla Conference (1945) seeking an interim government representing major Indian parties, but talks broke down primarily over communal representation.
‎- Managed the end of World War II in India; paved the way for final independence negotiations.

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

21 February 1947 – 15 August 1947

- Last Viceroy of British India; oversaw the final settlement for Partition of British India into India and Pakistan on 15 August 1947.
‎- Negotiated with Indian leaders (Nehru, Patel, Jinnah) to finalize the partition plan, known as the Mountbatten Plan.
‎- Served briefly as India’s first post-independence Governor-General (until June 1948).