GOVERNOR-GENERALS OF BENGAL Notes for UPSC SSC JKSSB By Home Academy
1. Warren Hastings (1772-85)
● He became Governor of Bengal in 1772 and first Governor-General of Bengal in 1774, through the Regulating Act of 1773.
● He abolished the dual system of administration.
● Divided Bengal into districts and appointed collectors and other revenue officials.
● Established India’s first Supreme Court in Calcutta.
● He founded Asiatic Society of Bengal with William Jones in 1784 and wrote introduction to the first English translation of the Gita by Charles Wilkins.
● Started Diwani and Faujdari adalats and the district level Sadar diwani and Nizmat adalats (appellate courts).
● He redefined Hindu and Muslim laws. A translation of code in Sanskrit appeared under the title ‘Code of Gentoo laws’.
● First Anglo-Maratha War occurred during his period, which ended with Treaty of Salbai (1776-82).
● Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84), ended with Treaty of Mangalore.
● Rohilla War in 1774.
● Pitts India Act, 1784 and Edmund Burke Bill, 1783 was passed.
● Deprived zamindar of their judicial powers. Maintenance of records was made compulsory.
● Impeachment proceedings started against him in Britain on the charges of taking bribes. After a trial of 7 years, he was finally acquitted.
Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)
● First person to codify laws (1793). The code separated the revenue administration from the administratio of justice.
● He started the Permanent Settlement of Bengal.
● He created the post of District Judge.
He is known as Father of Civil Services in India.
● Third Anglo-Mysore War and the Treaty of Seringapatnam.
● He undertook police reforms.
● Reform of the Judiciary (1793) setting up courts at different levels and separation of revenue administration from Judicial administration.
Sir John Shore (1793 - 1798)
● He played an important role in planning the Permanent Settlement.
He introduced First Charter Act (1793).
● He was famous for his policy of non-interference.
● Battle of Kharla between Nizam and Marathas (1759).
Lord Wellesley (1798-1805)
● Introduced the system of Subsidiary Alliance. Madras presidency was formed during his tenure.
● In Fourth Anglo-Mysore War 1799, Tipu Sultan died.
● First subsidiary treaty with Nizam of Hyderabad.
● Second Anglo-Maratha War(1803-05)
● In 1800, he set-up Fort William College in Calcutta. He was famous as Bengal Tiger. He brought the Censorship of Press Act, 1799.
George Barlow (1805-1807) - vellore Mutiny
Lord Minto 1 (1807-1813)
Concluded treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit singh (1809)
Charter act 1813 was passsed
Lord Hastings (1813-1823)
Adopted the policy of intervention and wars
Anglo Napalese war 1813-23
3rd Anglo Maratha war 1817-18
Introduced Royatwari settlement in Madras by Thomas Munro (governor)
LORD Amherst 1823-1828
Ist Burmese war 1824-26
Acquisition of Territories in Malay Peninsula
Capture of Bharatpur 1826
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