Lord W. Bentick (1833–35) : First Governor-General of India. Macaulay’s minutes on education were accepted declaring that English should be the official language of India; Abolished provincial courts of appeal and circuit set up by Cornwallis, appointment of Commissioners of revenue and circuit.
Wars : Annexed Coorg (1834), Central Cachar (1834) on the plea of misgovernment.
Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835–1836) : Passed the famous Press Law, which liberated the press in India (Called Liberator the the Press).
Lord Auckland (1836–42) : 1st Anglo-Afghan War (1836-42)-great blow to the prestige of the British in India.
Lord Ellenborough (1842–44) : Brought an end to the Afghan War. Annexation of Sindh (1843); War with Gwalior (1843).
Lord Hardings I (1844–48) : 1st Anglo-Sikh war (1845-46) and the Treaty of Lahore 1846 (marked the end of Sikh sovereighty in India); Gave preference to English education in employment.
Lord Dalhousie (1848–56) : Abolished Titles and Pensions, Widow Remarriage Act (1856). Made Shimla the summer capital.
Administrative Reforms : Introduced the system of Centralized control in the newly acquired territories known as Bon-Regulation system; Raised Gurkha regiments.
Education Reforms : Recommended the Thomsonian system of Vernacular education for whole of the North western Provinces (1853); Wood’s Educational Despatch of 1854 and opening of Anglo-Vernacular Schools and Government Colleges; An Engineering College was established at Roorkee.
Public Works : Started the first railway line in 1853 (connecting Bombay with Thana); Started electric telegraph service. Laid the basis of the modern postal system (1854); A separate public works department was set up for the first time; Started work on the Grand Trunk Road and developed the harbours of Karachi, Bombay and Calcutta.
Wars : Introduced Doctrine of Lapse (Captured Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambhalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur(1854); Fought 2nd Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49) and annexed the whole of the Punjab; 2nd Anglo-Burmese War (1852) and annexation of Lower Burma orPegu; Annexation of Berar in 1853; Annexation of Avadh in 1856 on charges of maladministration.
Lord Canning (1856–58) : The last Governor General and first Viceroy of India; Revolt of 1857; Passed the Act of 1858, which ended the rule of the East India Company. Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse. Mutiny took place in his time.
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