British East India Company, Timeline, Headquarters, Key Details

Q: When did British East India come to India?

The British East India Company arrived in India in 1600 and established its first factory at Surat in 1613.

Q: What did the British do to the East India Company?

The British government abolished the East India Company in 1874 after transferring its powers to the Crown in 1858.

Q: Who founded the British East India Company?

The British East India Company was founded by a group of English merchants and was granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600.

Q: What is the old name of East India Company?

The old name of the East India Company was "The Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies."

Q: Who wrote the economic history of India?

Dadabhai Naoroji wrote "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India", laying the foundation for India’s economic history under colonial rule.

Table of Contents☰

The British East India Company in India was established in the year 1600 as a trading company and later turned into a ruling body in 1765. This transition was attained after East India Company obtained the Diwani Rights to collect revenue of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in the treaty of Allahabad. This way the British East India Company got to interfere in the Indian Affairs. The East India Company ruled in India until the Government of India Act of 1858. This resulted in the formation of a new British Raj and the British finally gained complete control over India. In this article, we are going to cover all about the British East India Company.

British East India Company First Factory

The British East India Company established its first temporary factory at Masulipatnam in 1605 to begin trade with India. Later, it set up its first permanent factory at Surat in 1613 after getting permission from Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This marked the official start of British commercial presence in India and laid the foundation for future colonial expansion.

British East India Company History

The British East India Company was a trading company established by the British that gradually expanded its political and military influence, laying the foundation for British rule in India.

Founded on 31 December 1600 by a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I.
Initially established to conduct trade with the East Indies, particularly in spices, silk, cotton, tea, and other goods.
Set up its first factory at Surat in 1613 after obtaining trading rights from the Jahangir.
Established major trading centers at Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta.
Defeated the Nawab of Bengal in the Battle of Plassey, marking the beginning of British political dominance in India.
Secured the Diwani Rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765, gaining authority to collect revenue.
Expanded its control through wars, alliances, annexations, and policies such as the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse.
Played a significant role in transforming India’s economy by promoting British trade interests and exploiting local resources.
Faced widespread opposition, culminating in the Revolt of 1857, the first major uprising against British rule.
Following the Revolt of 1857, the company was abolished, and governance of India was transferred directly to the British Crown through the Government of India Act, 1858.

British East India Company Timeline

The British East India Company was founded in 1600 as a joint stock company to carry out trade in the Indian Ocean. The company started conducting its business with the East Indies and then East Asia and finally dissolved by order of the British Parliament in 1874. Following is the timeline of British East India Company in India:

Timeline of the British East India Company in India (From 1600 to 1858)
Year	Events
1600	A Royal charter from the British Queen Elizabeth I was obtained by the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading to the East India Company.
1601	The first East India Company Voyage was led by Sir James Lancaster aboard the Red Dragon.
1609	Sir William Hawkins fails to obtain a permit for a factory in Surat during the reign of Jahangir due to Portuguese influence in the Mughal Court.
1611	The East India Company established its first factory at Masulipatnam (now Machilipatnam), Andhra Pradesh.
1612	Battle of Suvali (Sawally) Portuguese were defeated off the coast of Surat by the EIC’s Fleet under the command of Captain Thomas Best.
1613	EIC got permission from Jahangir to build a factory in Surat (the first permanent factory).
1615 -1619	Sir Thomas Roe was the British ambassador at Jahangir’s court. Later, he was successful in obtaining permission to build factories in Agra, Ahmedabad, and Broach (now Bharuch).
1616	EIC established a permanent factory at Masulipatnam.
1632	The Sultan of Golconda had granted the “Golden Farman” to EIC.
1633	EIC established factories in Balasore, Odisha, and Hariharpur on the Mahanadi delta.
1639	The Chandragiri ruler gave the EIC permission to construct a fortified factory in Madras that would later become known as Fort St. George. It took over as the headquarters of the British settlements in South India from Masulipatnam.
1651	Mughal Bengal governor Shah Shuja allowed the English to trade in Bengal without paying any customs duties in exchange for an annual lump sum of Rs. 3000. EIC built a factory in Hooghly, Bengal.
1658	At Kasimbazar, another factory was opened.
1662	King Charles II of Britain receives Bombay from Portugal as a dowry for Princess Catherine. In addition, Portugal and Britain signed a non-aggression treaty.
1668	Britain leased Bombay to the EIC for €10 per year. Later, it replaces Surat as the Western presidency’s headquarters.
1686 – 1689	A series of battles erupted between Mughal and EIC.
1689	The Mughal Navy, led by Admiral Sidi Yukub, launched an attack on Bombay.
1690	EIC was forced to surrender and beg Aurangzeb for forgiveness EIC was also forced to sign a treaty with Mughal, which included: Bombay was returned to EIC after a huge fine was paid. Job Charnock, an EIC agent, obtains permission for the EIC to establish a factory in Sutanuti, Bengal.
1696	Sutanuti was fortified following a conflict with the local Zamindars.
1698	EIC paid 1200 rupees for the zamindari of three villages: Sutanuti, Gobinpur, and Kalighat (Kalikata, letter Calcutta/Kolkata).
1700 – 1701	Fort William, named after King William III of England, was built in Sutanuti.
1701 – 1708	Formation of the “United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies”.
1717	Farrukhsiyar, the Mughal emperor, issued royal farmans to the EIC (the British mission led by John Surman). In Bengal Except for a yearly payment of 3,000 rupees, they were permitted to trade freely. EIC was granted the authority to issue Dastaks (trade permit passes) for the transportation of goods. By this Farman, EIC was permitted to rent more around Calcutta. In Hyderabad EIC already had free trade rights, which were retained by the new farman. EIC would only pay the prevailing rent in Madras. In Surat EIC was required to pay Rs 10,000 per year and was exempt from all other duties. By this farman, EIC coins were permitted in all Mughal territories.
1740 – 1763	The Carnatic Wars (the English-French rivalry) began. First Carnatic War 1740 – 1748 Second Carnatic War 1749 – 1754 Third Carnatic War 1756 – 1763
1756	Black Hole of Calcutta or Black hole tragedy The term “Black Hole of Calcutta” refers to a jail cell where 146 British prisoners were held after the Nawab of Bengal stopped fortifying the city in anticipation of war surrounding the fort in Calcutta.
1757	Treaty of Alinagar On February 9, 1757, the Bengal Nawab Sirajuddaula and the EIC signed the Alinagar Treaty. The treaty allowed for the fortification of the town and the minting of coins, and it returned Calcutta to the EIC with all of its rights. The treaty’s terms favoured EIC and increased their power. The terms of the treaty, according to Clive’s letter to the Select Committee dated February 22, 1757, were “both honourable and advantageous to the Company.”
1757	Battle of Plassey East India Company victory British Rule started in India
1759	Battle of Chinsurah The then-Nawab of Bengal, Mir Jafar, invited the Dutch East India Company to defeat the East India Company, but they were defeated by EIC.
1760	Battle of Wandiwash It was an attempt by the French to take over the Fort of Vandavasi in Tamil Nadu during the third Carnatic war, but they were defeated by EIC.
1761	The East India Company captured Pondichery from French forces in India.
1764	Battle of Buxar EIC victory Treaty of Allahabad 1765
1765	Treaty of Allahabad It was signed on August 12, 1765, in the aftermath of the Battle of Buxar, by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, Shuja-ud-daulah, and Robert Clive of the East India Company. With Shuja-Ud-Daulah of Awadh He handed over Kara and Allahabad to the Mughal emperor. He was forced to pay EIC 50 lakh as a war indemnity. He was forced to sign an offensive and defensive alliance with EIC. EIC succeed to obtain free trade rights in Awadh. With Shah Alam II of Delhi In exchange for a 26 lakh pension, Shah Alam II granted Diwani rights to the East India Company in Bengal, Bihar, and Orisa.
1765 – 1772	Dual System of Government in Bengal Nizamat Rights (Political and Administrative Rights): were given to Nawab of Bengal by EIC. Diwani Rights (Rights to collect taxes): These rights were under EIC’s direct control.
1767-1769	First Anglo-Mysore War Mysore victory Treaty of Madras
1769 – 1772	Great Bengal Famine
1773	Regulating Act 1773
1775 – 1782	First Anglo-Maratha War Maratha victory Treaty of Salbai
1780 – 1784	Second Anglo-Mysore War Status quo ante bellum Treaty of Mangalore
1781	Amending Act of 1781 or Act of Settlement of 1781
1784	Pitt’s India Act
1790 – 1792	Third Anglo-Mysore War East India Company victory Treaty of Seringapatam
1791	Charles Cornwallis introduced a regular Police force system in India.
1793	Introduction of the Cornwallis Code Revenue and justice administration were separated. Principles of the sovereignty of law were introduced. Hindu and Muslim laws were codified separately. European subjects were now brought under jurisdiction as well. The civil service was founded by Warren Hastings, and it was reformed, modernised, and rationalised by Charles Cornwallis.
1799	Fourth Anglo-Mysore War East India Company victory Mysore entered into a subsidiary alliance Introduction of Censorship of Press Act in India The EIC was concerned about the French invasion and the spread of French revolution ideas in India. Publishers were not allowed news against the government.
1803 -1805	Second Anglo-Maratha War East India Company victory Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon
1806	Vellore Mutiny It was the first significant mutiny by Indian sepoys within the East India Company, and it occurred because the EIC ignored the Hindu and Muslim Indian sepoys’ religious sensibilities. Fateh Hyder, Tipu Sultan’s son, led the Indian sepoys.
1809	Treaty of Amritsar The East India Company signed a treaty with Maharaj Ranjit Singh of Punjab.
1813	Introduction of the Charter Act of 1813
1814 -1816	Anglo-Nepalese War East India Company victory Treaty of Sugauli
1817 – 1819	Third Anglo-Maratha War East India Company victory The formal end of the Maratha Empire
1820	Royatwari system was established by Thomas Munro.
1824 – 1826	First Anglo-Burmese War East India Company victory Treaty of Yandabo British rule started in Burma (present-day Myanmar)
1826	Siege of Bharatpur
1829	Bengal Sati Regulation Act Raja Ram Mohan Roy played a significant part in this Act, which banned the Sati Pratha in all areas of British India.
1830	Suppression of thugis by Colonel Sleemen.
1833	Charter Act of 1833 The creation of coins bearing the name of the Mughal emperor was stopped.
1834	Law Commission under Macaulay The Charter Act of 1833 constituted the first law commission. This led to: Civil Procedure code 1859 Indian Penal Code 1860 Criminal Procedure Code 1861
1835	Macaulay Committee for educational reforms constituted in India. In his “Minute on Indian Education,” British historian and politician Thomas Babington Macaulay argued for the adoption of English education for Indian indigenous. Know about the Education System In India During British Rule! Introduction of the Press Act or Metcalf Act.
1837	The Post Office Act The British Government had sole authority to deliver letters in EIC territories.
1838 – 1842	First Anglo-Afghan War Afghan Victory British EIC withdrawal from Afghanistan
1843	Sindh was annexed by the East India Company under Charles Napier.
1845 – 1846	First Anglo-Sikh War British victory Treaty of Lahore
1848 – 1849	Second Anglo-Sikh War East India Company victory The formal end of the Sikh Empire
1848-1856	Dalhousie initiated the “doctrine of lapse” which was an annexation policy. In India, 4000 miles of telegraph lines were laid down under the supervision of O’Shaughnessy. The East India Company introduced the first postal stamp in India under the name “SCINDE DISTRICT DAWK.”
1852 – 1853	Second Anglo-Burmese War East India Company victory East India Company troops annexed Pegu, Burma’s (now Myanmar) only remaining independent coastal province.
1853	History of Railways (British India): Railway expansion work was started in India under James Broun Ramsay (Lord Dalhousie). Railways were primarily used for military, commercial, and administrative purposes. Introduction of the Charter Act of 1853.
1854	The upper Ganges canal was declared open. Separate Public works Departments (PWDs) were established in every province. The British East India Company established the modern postal system in India. Postal stamps were issued throughout India. Postal rates were uniform throughout India. Wood’s Despatch for Indian Education System was introduced. The First Comprehensive Plan for Mass Education in India, also known as the “Magna Carta” of English Education in India. The Macaulay Committee (committee on Indian civil services) was formed.
1856	Awadh was annexed by Dalhousie. Widow Remarriage Act Passed. The Indian activists Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Rani Rashmoni of Bengal played a significant role. It was drafted during Dalhousie’s tenure but passed during Charles Canning’s tenure before the 1857 Revolt.
1857	Revolt of 1857: Sepoy Mutiny East India Company victory The formal end of Mughal Empire The formal end of EIC rule in India
1858	Queen Victoria’s Proclamation On November 1, 1858, Lord Canning announced the Queen’s Proclamation at Allahabad Durbar. Introduction of Government of India Act, 1858. From now on, India would be governed and known as Her Majesty the British Monarch. The British Raj was officially established in India, and company rule was transferred to the British crown.
1 Jun 1874	The British Parliament formally dissolved the East India Company.

British East India Company

The British East India Company has the following important facts to be remembered:

British East India Company
Established	31st December 1600
Type	State-owned company partially
Headquarters	East India House, London, Great Britain
Dissolved	The East India Company was formally dissolved on June 1, 1874 in accordance with the provisions of the East India Stock Dividend Redemption Acct 1873. On June 1, 1874, the East India Company was formally dissolved in accordance with the provisions of the East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act 1873.

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British East India Company FAQs

Q1. When did British East India come to India?+

Q2. What did the British do to the East India Company?+

Q3. Who founded the British East India Company?+

Q4. What is the old name of East India Company?+

Q5. Who wrote the economic history of India?+

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