---
title: East India Company
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2024-04-23
---

# East India Company

_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_

The English East [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) Company (EIC or EEIC), later to become the British East India Company, was founded in 1600 as a trading company. With a massive private army and the backing of the British government, the EIC looted the Indian subcontinent from 1757 until anarchy necessitated that government step in and take over EIC possessions in 1858.

The EIC was the means by which [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/) conducted its imperialistic policies in Asia, and it made millions through its global [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) in spices, tea, textiles, and opium. It was criticised for its monopolies, harsh trading terms, corruption, and the damage it did to the wool trade. Finally but by no means least, the EIC swept away rulers that stood in its path, relentlessly siphoned off resources, and repressed the cultural practices of the peoples living within its vast territories. In short, the EIC was the "sharp end of the British imperial stick" (Faught, 6). The EIC's directors and its shareholders gained immense riches. India, in contrast, became ever-poorer. Much more than a trading company, the EIC ultimately became a state within a state, even an [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) within an empire, and one accountable to no one except its shareholders.

### Foundation

A royal charter created the English East India Company on 31 December 1600 as a limited joint stock company (people invested capital and received part of the profits) managed by a group of 215 merchants and investors headed by the Earl of Cumberland. Awarded by [Elizabeth I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Elizabeth_I_of_England/) (r.1558-1603), the charter granted the EIC the exclusive right to trade with India, in fact, it granted a monopoly on all trade east of the Cape of Good Hope. To conduct this trade, the EIC was permitted to 'wage [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/)'. Although the EIC did not hold sovereignty in its areas of operation, it was permitted to exercise sovereignty in the name of the English Crown and government.

The envoy of [James I of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/James_I_of_England/) (r. 1603-1625) to the court of Jahangir, emperor of the Mughal Empire (1526-1858), was Sir Thomas Roe (1581-1644), and he built upon the first contacts made by the trader William Hawkins in 1609. Between 1612 and 1619, Roe secured permission for the EIC to set up a 'factory' or trading post at Surat on the west coast of India. The British took over the port completely in 1759, but it was replaced as the EIC's main trading centre after the English Crown acquired Bombay (Mumbai) from the Portuguese in 1661. Rulers elsewhere were induced to allow the EIC to set up more trading posts, and so the company's reach and power steadily grew. Notable new posts included Masulipatam (Machilipatnam) and Madras in 1639-40, and then Hughli in 1658. Calcutta (Kolkata) was another important EIC base from 1690.

[ ![Sir Thomas Roe at the Court of Jahangir](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/16386.png?v=1751715489-1663319090) Sir Thomas Roe at the Court of Jahangir Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16386/sir-thomas-roe-at-the-court-of-jahangir/ "Sir Thomas Roe at the Court of Jahangir")The addition of Bombay (formally handed over to the EIC in 1668) came about because [Charles II of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Charles_II_of_England/) (r. 1660-1685) received it as a wedding gift when he married Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705) who was the daughter of John IV of Portugal (r. 1640-1656). Charles, eager to create a powerful rival to Dutch interests in Asia represented by the [Dutch East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dutch_East_India_Company/) (VOC), gave the EIC autonomy to conduct its affairs as it saw fit. The VOC had been founded two years after the EIC, but a much greater investment in it meant it boasted a powerful naval fleet that had enabled it to take many valuable possessions of the [Portuguese Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Portuguese_Empire/). The VOC cornered the lucrative spice trade in Asia and its sources in Indonesia. Such was the VOC's dominance, the EIC turned its covetous gaze to India instead.

### Trade

The EIC was heavily involved in what become known as the 'triangular trade', which involved exchanging precious metals for products made in India (notably fine textiles) and then selling these on in the East Indies in exchange for spices. The spices (above all [pepper](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pepper/)) were then shipped to London, where they commanded prices high enough to make a profit on the original metals investment. Later in its history, the EIC gained enormous profits from its control of the salt trade, tea trade, and sale of opium to [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/). The EIC imported so much tea to Britain that it switched from being an expensive commodity to a drink cheaper than locally-made [beer](https://www.worldhistory.org/Beer/). Helped by cheap sugar imports from slave plantations in the Caribbean, the British became a nation of tea drinkers. The trend spread to the colonies in North America, so much so that when they had to pay tax on EIC tea imports it caused the [Boston Tea Party](https://www.worldhistory.org/Boston_Tea_Party/) which escalated into a revolution.

To obtain tea, then only grown in China, the EIC traded opium from India. Opium was banned by the Chinese government, but the EIC smuggled it in anyway – a situation that eventually led to war between China and Britain in 1839 (The First Opium War). Other notable goods traded by the EIC included porcelain, [silk](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silk/), saltpetre (for gunpowder), indigo, coffee, [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/), and wool. The company's ships which carried these goods across the globe were well-armed; a typical East Indiaman (the general name for an EIC ship) carried a formidable 30-36 cannons. Fortunately for the EIC, the Royal Navy was able to control much of the Indian Ocean. EIC ships were identified by their flag, first with red and white horizontal stripes and a St. George cross in the corner and then with a Union Jack after the Act of Union in 1707 that joined [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/) with [Scotland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Scotland/).

Such was the company's power, there were voices of protest in Britain that the EIC was drawing away too much silver from the home country's [economy](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/economy/) and its massive imports of Indian textiles were damaging to the traditional English wool trade. A response was to raise duties for cotton imports and pass laws favouring wool, such as the ruling in the last quarter of the 17th century that prohibited people in England being buried in anything other than wool clothing. Laws soon went further and banned completely imports to Britain of finished cotton cloth, but by the second half of the 18th century the material was so popular it led to the rise of a manufacturing industry. The EIC did well trading textiles around the world, but now Britain was producing its own in huge textile mills concentrated in densely populated areas such as the [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Lancashire. In this sense, the EIC was partly responsible for this sector of the [Industrial Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Industrial_Revolution/) in Britain.

[ ![Original Flag of the English East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/16385.png?v=1753526772-1663318519) Original Flag of the English East India Company Wdflake (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16385/original-flag-of-the-english-east-india-company/ "Original Flag of the English East India Company")There was much criticism, too, that the EIC's trade monopoly was unfair and hardly in the interests of the British nation as a whole. The EIC was taken to the British courts many times by independent traders who wanted a slice of the trade with India, but the EIC cleverly argued that, strictly speaking, it had no monopoly since it had itself created the trade and not taken it over from another party. The EIC did help expand what today have become global metropolises like Mumbai, Singapore, and Guangzhou (Canton), and it created new export markets for goods manufactured in Britain and elsewhere, but the terms of the contracts the EIC imposed were never particularly advantageous to anyone but itself.

Another vast source of income came from the EIC's policy of charging rents within its territories and using without hesitation threats and violence on those who did not comply. In short, the EIC was a trading [giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/) and, just like today's global behemoth businesses, it had friends and it had enemies, but almost always more of the latter than the former.

### A State within a State

The Mughal Empire did receive some other benefits to these trade arrangements. Often British warships performed services and helped protect the interests of the emperors at sea. The British-Mughal relationship was affected by the Marathas who challenged and conquered Mughal territories in the southern and western areas of India in the 18th century. In addition, as the shape of the Indian political map shifted, from 1757, the EIC controlled its own territory and effectively became a state within a state.

The EIC invested heavily in professional military forces and paid to use regiments of British army regulars. In 1763, the EIC had 6,680 troops in Bengal alone, a figure which rocketed to 129,473 by 1823. Initially, EIC army troops and officers came from anywhere, but reforms in 1785 resulted in only Britishers holding officer rank. The majority of troops were recruited from the Indian peasantry. This vast army dwarfed the EIC's civilian employees, who numbered around 3,500 in 1830.

[ ![East India Company Fort, Bombay](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/16210.png?v=1753526767-1659015314) East India Company Fort, Bombay Unknown Artist (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16210/east-india-company-fort-bombay/ "East India Company Fort, Bombay")The EIC built fortresses, had a navy (the Bombay Marine), minted [coinage](https://www.worldhistory.org/coinage/), had a vast archive of documents (now in the British Library), ran its own courts, and maintained its prisons for those who offended against it. The company even sponsored major survey expeditions. The EIC Court of Directors chose its staff from within, and entry was through examinations, a process copied by other British institutions thereafter. Indians were excluded from the EIC. By the 18th century, the investors in the EIC (Court of Proprietors) came from all walks of life and included men, [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/) (especially widows), nobles, politicians, military men, merchants, administrators, financiers, professionals, and small investors (including foreigners). Everybody trusted the EIC and looked forward to dividends based on its continued success.

The John Company, as it was commonly called at the time, did suffer periods of decline, especially when wars drained its resources or commerce was particularly hit by trade restrictions, corruption, smuggling, and [piracy](https://www.worldhistory.org/Piracy/). The EIC certainly did not have everything its own way in Asia since other European powers were also keen to exploit India's trade and resources. The French East India Company (founded in 1664) boasted a well-trained army, and with the support of rival Indian rulers, it was able to challenge the EIC. Madras, for example, switched from British to French control twice. There was even rivalry from closer to home. In 1698, a second English East India Company was founded, but it merged into the older one in 1709. The new bigger company was officially called The United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, but everyone just called it the East India Company as before except in official correspondence when it was referred to as the Honourable East India Company.

### Government Regulation

In 1764-5, after the [Battle of Buxar](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2116/battle-of-buxar/), the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II awarded the EIC the right to collect land revenue (*dewani*) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This was a major step and ensured the company had vast resources to expand and protect its traders, bases, armies, and ships. The EIC had now become the official imperial tool of the British Empire in India, and it was the level of coordination between the various EIC centres that set it apart from both its Indian and European rivals. Men like [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) (1725-1774) carved out an empire in the EIC's name. Clive of India, as he was popularly known, rose from clerk to Governor of Bengal, and his military skills, shown in such victories as the June 1757 [Battle of Plassey](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2107/battle-of-plassey/) against forces of the Nawab of Bengal, were matched by his administrative ones. Clive reduced corruption and increased regulation so that what had hitherto been private trade resembled more and more official British government control. Even so, there were still accusations that EIC officials were enriching themselves at the expense of the interests of the British state – even Clive came under suspicion. The EIC officials who retired to England and an extravagant retirement with their riches were known disparagingly as 'Nabobs', a corruption of the Mughal title for a high-ranking official, *nawab*.

[ ![Robert Clive & Shah Alam](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/16415.png?v=1724257326-1663617285) Robert Clive & Shah Alam Benjamin West (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16415/robert-clive--shah-alam/ "Robert Clive & Shah Alam")Another, not unrelated criticism, was that the EIC was not doing enough to promote the spread of [Christianity](https://www.worldhistory.org/christianity/) by funding churches and aiding missionaries. This was true since the company banned all missionaries until 1813. The directors were wary of making the mistakes the Portuguese Empire had made in spreading Catholicism, which alienated potential allies of other faiths. This was one of the few areas which reminded the EIC was a trading body and not a sovereign state.

Apart from [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/), the interests of the EIC and the British government were becoming as one. The 1773 Regulating Act and 1774 India Act gave the British government military, financial, and political control over the territories administered in its name by the EIC. Officials of the EIC could no longer conduct private trade, and there was far more transparency over accounts and general company correspondence. The greater interest the British government began to take in India was likely a direct result of the loss of its colonies in North America in 1783.

There was now no question that the EIC was a branch of the British government, but the relationship was not one-directional. In the early 19th century, around 100 Members of Parliament in Westminster were also employees of the EIC, and so the tentacles of this trading giant reached to the very heart of political power in Britain. [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) (1732-1818) was a key figure in EIC history. Made its first Governor-General in 1774, his tenure saw the company make many treaty arrangements with independent Indian princes and replace a strategy based on [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) with one that returned to the company's roots as a trading body where administration was left to the locals. This policy was short-lived, in fact, but Hasting's tenure saw the EIC grow enormously. Hastings was considered a despot back in England, and he was put on trial for corruption but then acquitted; empire building was clearly seen as a dirty but necessary business if Britain was to compete with its European rivals.

The British-controlled territory in India kept on expanding. The Four [Anglo-Mysore Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anglo-Mysore_Wars/) (1767-1799) resulted in yet more territories being gobbled up by the EIC. The 1793 Bengal Permanent Settlement made tax collectors (*zamindars*) also landowners who now collected revenues from their tenants, which were passed on to the EIC. The idea was to make the EIC's land tax revenue more stable, but it caused a damaging upheaval in the traditional agricultural way of life and sent tens of thousands into permanent debt. This was the EIC's great conundrum: how to extract as much wealth as possible from India without causing civil unrest. It was a problem the British Empire would also struggle with when it took over, a shift that was now drawing ever closer as the EIC's days became numbered.

[ ![Copper Coin of the East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/16388.png?v=1663319722-1663319757) Copper Coin of the East India Company Billjones94 (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16388/copper-coin-of-the-east-india-company/ "Copper Coin of the East India Company")The Charter Act of 1813 proclaimed British sovereignty over newly-captured territory and formally ended the EIC's monopoly on trade with India. In 1819, a base was established at Singapore, which, from 1826, was administered along with Malacca and Penang on the Malay peninsula as the Straits Settlements. These acquisitions in some way masked the financial problems the EIC was experiencing after the 1825 global crash and which necessitated huge loans from the British government, loans which would lead to regulation.

Another key figure in the EIC's history now appears: Lord William Bentinck (1774-1839). Made Governor-General in 1828, Bentinck returned to the policies of the Hastings years and focussed on expansion through treaties rather than expensive military campaigns. Bentinck was also known for his social reforms and most notoriously for his abolition of *sati* (aka *suttee*) in 1829. *Sati* was the custom for a [Hindu](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) widow to sacrifice herself on the funeral pyre of their late husband. Other reforms included the selection of English as the company's official language (it had been Persian), but although these may have been well considered in London, in India they were rightly seen as part of an Anglicisation and Christianisation process of the subcontinent.

The 1833 and 1853 Charter Acts further reduced the EIC's powers. In 1833, the EIC lost its monopoly on trade with China. In 1853, the first railway and telegraph lines in India were put in operation. The tenure of the Marquess of Dalhousie (1812-1860), EIC Governor-General from 1848, witnessed an aggressive expansion based on military conquest of princely states where vast areas – notably the Punjab and lower Burma – were added to the EIC's property portfolio following the two Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845-1849). This hyperaggressive policy may have been successful in the short term but it backfired spectacularly.

### Government Takeover

1857-58 saw the collapse of the Mughal Empire and the formal closure of the EIC as the British Crown repressed the [Sepoy Mutiny](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sepoy_Mutiny/) (aka The Uprising or First Indian War of Independence) which rebelled against British rule. The causes of the rebellion were many and ranged from discrimination against Indian cultural practices to Indian princes not being allowed to pass on their territories to an adopted son, but the initial spark came from the sepoys. Sepoys were the Indian soldiers employed by the EIC, and they protested against (amongst other things) their much lower pay compared to British EIC soldiers. At this point, the EIC employed around 45,000 British soldiers and over 230,000 sepoys. Although the sepoys took over important centres like Delhi, their lack of overall command and coordination and the superior resources of the EIC and British government led to their downfall. After the mutiny was quashed in 1858, the British Crown took full possession of EIC territories in India and so began what is popularly termed the British Raj (rule). On 1 June 1874, Parliament formally dissolved the EIC. In 1877, [Queen Victoria](https://www.worldhistory.org/Queen_Victoria/) was proclaimed Empress of India, and British rule continued to squeeze what resources it could from India until independence was gained in 1947.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## Bibliography

- [Barrow, Ian. *The East India Company, 1600–1858.* Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2017.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1624665969/)
- [Dalrymple, William. *The Anarchy.* Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/163557580X/)
- [Faught, C. Brad. *Clive.* POTOMAC BOOKS, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1612341683/)
- [Gilmour, David. *The British in India.* Penguin, 2019.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0141979216/)
- [Mansingh, Surjit. *Historical Dictionary of India .* Scarecrow Press, 2006.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B00GYXCNWU/)
- [Rapson, E.J. *The Cambridge History of India Volume I.* CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1505870143/)
- [Tharoor, Shashi. *Inglorious Empire.* Scribe US, 2018.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1947534300/)
- [Wilson, Jon. *The Chaos of Empire.* PublicAffairs, 2016.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1610392930/)

## About the Author

Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.

## Timeline

- **1600 CE - 1874 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) is active in South Asia and [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/).
- **1612 CE - 1619 CE**: Sir Thomas Roe secures permission from the Mughal [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) for the first factory of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) at Surat.
- **1639 CE - 1640 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) establishes a [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) centre at Masulipatam (Machilipatnam) and Madras.
- **1658 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) establishes a [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) centre at Hughli.
- **1661 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) begins its control of Bombay (Mumbai).
- **1690 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) establishes a [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) centre at Calcutta (Kolkata).
- **1698 CE**: A rival English [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) is formed.
- **1709 CE**: The two rival English East [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) Companies merge.
- **Dec 1742 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) joins the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) as a 'writer'.
- **1750 CE**: [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) joins the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) as a clerk or ‘writer’.
- **Aug 1751 CE - Sep 1751 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) leads the defence of Arcot for the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **Dec 1751 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) wins a [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) at Arni against forces of Chandra Sahib, the nizam of Hyderabad.
- **Feb 1752 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) wins the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) at Kaveripak for the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **Jun 1752 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) commands the artillery of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) and helps capture Trichinopoly.
- **1755 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) returns to [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) as a lieutenant colonel in the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **Feb 1756 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) captures the Gheria fortress for the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **20 Jun 1756 CE**: A number of [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) soldiers and employees do not survive internment in the [Black Hole of Calcutta](https://www.worldhistory.org/Black_Hole_of_Calcutta/) prison cell.
- **1757 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) begins to control its own territory in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **1757 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) forms the 1st Bengal Native Infantry, the first [sepoy](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sepoy/) battalion.
- **Jan 1757 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) recaptures Calcutta for the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **Mar 1757 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) captures French-held Chandernagore for the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **23 Jun 1757 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) wins the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Plessey against forces of the nawab of Bengal.
- **1758 CE - 1761 CE**: [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) serves as the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/)'s representative at the court of the Nawab of Bengal.
- **Feb 1758 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) is made Governor of Bengal by the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1759 CE**: The East [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) Compnay takes full control of Surat.
- **1761 CE**: [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) is appointed to the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/)'s Council of Bengal.
- **1764 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) is appointed Governor of Bengal for a second time by the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1765 CE**: [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) initiates reforms in the [East india Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) reducing corruption and salaries.
- **12 Aug 1765 CE**: The Mughal emperor Shah Alam II awards the [East India company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) the right to collect land revenue (dewani) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
- **1767 CE - 1769 CE**: First Anglo-Mysore [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/).
- **1767 CE - 1799 CE**: The four [Anglo-Mysore Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anglo-Mysore_Wars/) see the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) expand its territories in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **Aug 1767 CE**: Haidar [Ali](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ali/), ruler of the kingdom of Mysore, declares [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) on the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **Sep 1767 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) defeats Mysore and the Nizam of Hyderabad at the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Trinamalai.
- **1772 CE**: [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) is appointed the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) Governor of Bengal.
- **1773 CE**: The Regulating Act is passed by the British Parliament and increases government control of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1773 CE**: The British Parliament investigates the financial afffairs of [Robert Clive](https://www.worldhistory.org/Robert_Clive/) but finds no wrong-doing.
- **1774 CE**: The [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) Act is passed by the British Parliament and further increases government control of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1774 CE - 1785 CE**: [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) serves as the first Governor-General of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1775 CE - 1819 CE**: The [Anglo-Maratha Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anglo-Maratha_Wars/) between the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) and the Maratha Confederacy.
- **1780 CE - 1784 CE**: Second Anglo-Mysore [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/).
- **Sep 1780 CE**: The Kingdom of Mysore defeats the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) at the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Pollilur.
- **Jul 1781 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) defeats the Kingdom of Mysore at the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Porto Novo (Parangipettai).
- **1785 CE**: Reforms in the army of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) dictate that only Britishers may become officers.
- **1787 CE**: [Warren Hastings](https://www.worldhistory.org/Warren_Hastings/) is impeached by Parliament on charges of corruption. He is ultimately acquitted.
- **1790 CE - 1792 CE**: Third Anglo-Mysore [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/).
- **Jan 1792 CE**: The Treaty of Seringapatam ends the Third Anglo-Mysore [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) and obliges Mysore to give up half its territory to the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1793 CE**: The Bengal Permanent Settlement makes tax collectors (zamindars) also landowners in [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) territory.
- **1798 CE**: Hyderabad becomes the first of many [Indian princely states](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indian_Princely_States/) to become a protectorate of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1799 CE**: Fourth Anglo-Mysore [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/).
- **7 Apr 1799 CE**: An [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) army begins a one-month siege of Seringapatam, capital of the Kingdom of Mysore.
- **3 May 1799 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) wins the [Anglo-Mysore Wars](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anglo-Mysore_Wars/) by capturing Seringapatam. Tipu Sultan of Mysore is killed and the kingdom becomes a British protectorate.
- **Jul 1806 CE**: [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) sepoys mutiny in Vellore, southern [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) against their British officers.
- **1813 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) lifts its ban on missionaries in its territories.
- **1813 CE**: The Charter Act proclaims British sovereignty over new territory captured by the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) and ends its [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) monopoly in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **1814 CE - 1816 CE**: The [Anglo-Nepalese War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anglo-Nepalese_War/) between Nepal and the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **Apr 1814 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) declares [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) on Nepal.
- **Apr 1814 CE**: A small [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) force in northern [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/) is wiped out by Nepalese raiders.
- **1816 CE**: The Treaty of Sugauli ends the [Anglo-Nepalese War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Anglo-Nepalese_War/) and makes Nepal a British protectorate.
- **1819 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) establishes a [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) centre at Singapore.
- **1825 CE**: The global crash necessitates the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) taking massive loans from the British government.
- **1826 CE**: Singapore, Malacca, and Penang on the Malay Peninsula are collectively administered as the Straits Settlements by the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1828 CE**: Lord William Bentinck is made Governor-General of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1829 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) abolishes the practice of sati in its territories.
- **1831 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) takes over the Kingdom of Mysore.
- **1833 CE**: The Charter Act reduces the independent powers of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) and removes its [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) monopoly with [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/)..
- **1838 CE - 1842 CE**: The [First Anglo-Afghan War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Anglo-Afghan_War/) between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the British [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1839 CE**: The First Opium [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) between [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/) and [China](https://www.worldhistory.org/china/) caused by the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/)'s persistent smuggling of opium into China.
- **1845 CE - 1846 CE**: The [First Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Anglo-Sikh_War/).
- **1845 CE - 1849 CE**: The two Anglo-Sikh Wars further increase the territories of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **13 Dec 1845 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) declares [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) on the Sikh [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/).
- **21 Dec 1845 CE - 22 Dec 1845 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) wins a marginal victory at the [Battle of Ferozeshah](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2130/battle-of-ferozeshah/) against the Sikh [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) durng the [First Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Anglo-Sikh_War/).
- **28 Jan 1846 CE**: The [Battle of Aliwal](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2134/battle-of-aliwal/) during the [First Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Anglo-Sikh_War/). The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) wins against the Sikh [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/).
- **10 Feb 1846 CE**: The [Battle of Sobraon](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2136/battle-of-sobraon/) during the [First Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Anglo-Sikh_War/). The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) wins against the Sikh [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/).
- **9 Mar 1846 CE**: The Treaty of Lahore ends the [First Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Anglo-Sikh_War/) in favour of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1848 CE**: The Marquess of Dalhousie is made the Governor-General of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1848 CE - 1849 CE**: The [Second Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Anglo-Sikh_War/).
- **1849 CE**: Following victory in the Anglo-Sikh Wars and as part of the ensuing peace treaty, the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) acquires the [Koh-i-Noor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Koh-i-Noor/) diamond.
- **13 Jan 1849 CE**: The [Battle of Chillianwala](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2140/battle-of-chillianwala/) during the [Second Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Anglo-Sikh_War/).
- **22 Jan 1849 CE**: The British capture Multan after a lengthy siege during the [Second Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Anglo-Sikh_War/).
- **21 Feb 1849 CE**: The British [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) defeats the Sikh [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) at the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Gujrat and so wins the [Second Anglo-Sikh War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Anglo-Sikh_War/).
- **1853 CE**: The Charter Act further reduces the independence of the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **1853 CE**: The [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) introduces the first railway and telegraph lines in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **1857 CE - 1858 CE**: The [Sepoy Mutiny](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sepoy_Mutiny/) (aka The Uprising or First Indian [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) of Independence) against the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
- **2 Aug 1858 CE**: The British state takes full possession of [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/) territories in [India](https://www.worldhistory.org/india/).
- **1 Jun 1874 CE**: The British Parliament formally dissolves the [East India Company](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).

## Questions & Answers

### What did the East India Company do?
The East India Company (EIC) was a British trading company that established trade 'factories' in India and elsewhere in Asia before conquering territory and administering it. In the mid-19th century, the EIC's territories were taken over by the British Crown and officially incorporated into the British Empire.

### Who owned the East India Company?
The East India Company was owned by a number of private shareholders ranging from the very rich to small investors. 

### Why was the East India Company so powerful?
The East India Company was so powerful because it had a trade monopoly with India and China. The company could pay for a large army to take new territory, build fortresses, and arm its ships to protect its global trade network. 

### Does the East India Company still exist?
The East India Company does not exist today. It became part of the British Empire in 1858 and was formally dissolved by the British Parliament in 1874.


## Cite This Work

### APA
Cartwright, M. (2022, September 27). East India Company. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/East\_India\_Company/](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/)
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "East India Company." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 27, 2022. [https://www.worldhistory.org/East\_India\_Company/](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "East India Company." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Sep 2022, [https://www.worldhistory.org/East\_India\_Company/](https://www.worldhistory.org/East_India_Company/).

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 27 September 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.