Governor Generals of india
Governor Generals of india ( 1933 -58 )
Lord W. Bentick (1833-35)
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.
Sir Charles Metcalfe (1834-1836)
Passed the famous Press Law, which liberated the press in India.
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); Abolished slavery (1843).
Lord Hardings I (1844-48)
1st Anglo-Sikh war (1845-46) and the Treaty of Lahore, 1846 (marked the end of Sikh sovereignty in India); Gave preference to English educated in employment.
Lord Dalhousie (1848-56)
Abolished Titles and Pensions, Introduction of Widow Remarriage Bill (Nov. 17,1855).
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 or Pegu; Annexation of Berar in 1853; Annexation of Avadh in 1856 on charges of mal-administration.
Administrative Reforms : Introduced the system of Centralized control in the newly acquired territories known as Non-Regulation system; Raised Gurkha regiments.
Educational Reforms : Recommended the Thomsonian system of Vernacular education for whole of the Northwestern Provinces (1853), Wiood 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 Rod and developed the harbours of Karachi, Bombay and Calcutta.
Lord Canning (1856-58)
The last Governor General of India; Passed Widow Remarriage Act (July 25,1856); Revolt of 1857; Passed the Act of 1858, which ended the rule of the East India Company. Withdrew Doctrine of Lapse.