PERSONALITIES

CONTRIBUTION

Warren Hastings 1773-1785

• In 1772, the Dual System was abolished. 
• Among the British Personalities, Warren Hastings founded the first Supreme Court of India in Calcutta.
• The Regulating Act of 1781 split the Supreme Court’s authority in Calcutta between the Government and that institution.
• During his time the Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded in 1784.
• Pitt’s India Act of 1784.
• The First Maratha War in 1775-82 and the Treaty of Salbai in 1782.
• Strained relationships with Chait Singh, the Maharaja of Banaras, which led to Hastings’ subsequent impeachment in England.

Lord Cornwallis 

1786-1793

• Third Mysore War (1790-92) and Treaty of Seringapatam (1792).
• Among the key British Personalities, Cornwallis Code (1793) incorporating several judicial reforms, and separation of revenue administration and civil jurisdiction.
• Introduced the Permanent Settlement of land revenue in Bengal and other parts of India.
• Europeanisation of administrative machinery and introduction of civil services.

Lord Wellesley 

1798-1805

• Introduction of the Subsidiary Alliance System (1798); first alliance with Nizam of Hyderabad.
• Took over the administration of Tanjore (1799), Surat (1800) and Carnatic (1801).
• Treaty of Bassein (1802)

Lord Hastings 

1813-1823

• Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16) and the Treaty of Sagauli, 1816.
• Third Maratha War (1817-19) and dissolution of Maratha Confederacy; creation of Bombay Presidency (1818).
• Strife with Pindaris (1817-1818) highlighted the challenges faced by British Personalities.
• Treaty with Sindhia (1817).
• Establishment of the Ryotwari System by Thomas Munro, governor of Madras (1820).

Lord William Bentinck 1828-1835

• Abolition of sati and other cruel rites (1829).
• Suppression of thugs (1830).
• Charter Act of 1833.
• Resolution of 1835, and educational reforms and introduction of English as the official language.
• Annexation of Mysore (1831), Coorg (1834) and Central Cachar (1834).
• Treaty of ‘perpetual friendship’ with Ranjeet Singh.
• Abolition of the provincial courts of appeal and circuit set up by Cornwallis, appointment of commissioners of revenue and circuit.

Lord Dalhousie 

1848-1856

• Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) and annexation of Punjab (1849).
• Annexation of Lower Burma or Pegu (1852). 
• Introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse and annexation of Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambhalpur (1849), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), Nagpur (1854) and Awadh (1856).
• “Wood’s Education Despatch” of 1854 and opening of Anglo-vernacular schools and government colleges by British Personalities.
• Railway Minute of 1853; and laying down of the first railway line connecting Bombay and Thane in 1853.
• Telegraph reforms.
• Widow Remarriage Act (1856).

Lord Canning 

1856-1857

• Establishment of three universities at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857.
• Transfer of control from East India Company to the Crown, the Government of India Act, 1858.
• ‘White Mutiny’ by European troops in 1859.
• Indian Councils Act of 1861.

Lord Mayo

1869-1872

• Establishment of Statistical Survey of India.
• Establishment of Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
• Introduction of state railways.

Lord Lytton 

1876-1880

• Famine of 1876-78 affecting Madras, Bombay, Mysore, Hyderabad, parts of central India and Punjab; appointment of Famine Commission under the presidency of Richard Strachey (1878).
• Royal Titles Act (1876), Queen Victoria assuming the title of ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ or Queen Empress of India.
• The Vernacular Press Act (1878) by British Personalities.
• The Arms Act (1878).
• The Second Afghan War (1878-80).

Lord Ripon 

1880-1884

• Repeal of the Vernacular Press Act (1882).
• The first Factory Act (1881) to improve labour conditions by British Personalities.
• Continuation of financial decentralization.
• Government resolution on local self-government (1882).
• Appointment of the Education Commission under chairmanship of Sir William Hunter (1882).
• The Ilbert Bill controversy (1883-84).

Lord Curzon 

1899-1905

• Appointment of Police Commission (1902) under Sir Andrew Frazer to review police administration.
• Appointment of Universities Commission (1902) and passing of Indian Universities Act (1904).
• Establishment of Department of Commerce and Industry.
• Calcutta Corporation Act (1899).
• Ancient Monuments Preservation Act (1904).
• Partition of Bengal (1905)

Charles Freer Andrews

• Known as the English friend of the freedom struggle.
• His close companions in India were Gandhi and Tagore.
• Fought for Indian justice until his last breath.

Verrier Elwin

• He served as an architect for NEFA and Indian tribals.
• He worked with Mahatma Gandhi and supported the freedom struggle.