Who Was The First And Last Governor General On Behalf Of The East India Company During The Rule Of The British?

Warren Hastings (1732-1818) was born and educated in England, and started working for the East India company as a young man, in 1750. He worked his way up through the company (which by this time had become so powerful that it effectively ruled India) and was made Governor of Bengal in 1772. The following year he became Governor General of the whole country. Hastings ruled India for the next 13 years, and was on the whole regarded as a successful admnistrator, who gave the Indian rulers a measure of autonomy. He returned to England in 1784.

In 1787, he was impeached by the British government on charges of corruption. This caused a famous scandal and lengthy debates in the House of Commons. Hastings was finally acquitted in 1795, by which time he had spent most of his money on defending himself. He remained active in politics until his death in 1818.

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