The East India Company controlled most of the subcontinent of India. No other company in history has ever governed so many people. With the exception of China, the E.I.C. controlled a larger population by the nineteenth century than any government of any country in the world.
The following list of East India Company directors is taken from the "Alphabetical List of Directors of the East India Company from 1758 to 1858", compiled by C.H. & D. Philips and published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, October 1941. This list has been compiled from manuscript records, in particular the Court Minutes and Home Miscellaneous Series, volume 764, at the India Office, amplified and checked by information mainly taken from the "Annual Register, the Asiatic Annual."
"The figures indicate the year of election to the Court of Directors and unless the name of the month in any particular year is given, the month is assumed to be that of April. It is important to remember that throughout the period the year of office was from April to the following April. When a span of years is shown the election dates given are inclusive."
"An asterisk placed after a year indicates that the director concerned was elected deputy chairman for that year, two asterisks, that he was chosen chairman, three, that he was first elected deputy and later in the same year appointed chairman. The abbreviations d., disq., respectively stand for died, disqualified.
Director's name | Dates of directorship | died |
---|---|---|
Agnew, Patrick Vans[1] | , 35–8, 40–2 | |
Alexander, Henry | –26, 28–31, 33–36, 38–41, 43–46, 48–51, 53 | |
–22, 24–72, 29–32, 34–37, 39 | ||
1814–17, 19–20 | ||
1760, 63 | ||
–1800, 02–05, 07–09*–10**, 12–15, 17–20, 22–23*–24**–25, 27–28**–29–*30**, 32–35, 37–40, 42–45 | ||
Astell, John Harvey | , 52–58. | |
Jan 1784–84–85 | ||
Baillie, John | , 25–28, 30–33 | |
Bannerman, John Alexander | 1808–11, 13–16, disq. Mar 1817. | |
Baring, Francis | 1779–82, 84–87, 89–91*–92**, 94–97, 99–1802, 04–07, 09–10 | |
Baron, Christopher | 1759, 61–64, 66–67 | |
Barrington, Fitzwilliam | 1759, 61–62, 65–67. | |
Barwell, William[2] | 1753–56, 58–59, 61–64, 66. | |
Bayley, William Butterworth | July 1833–35 37–39*–40**, 42–45, 47–50, 52–58 | |
Bebb, John | Nov 1804, 06–09, 11–14, 16*–17**–19, 21–24, 26–29, disq. Apr 1830. | |
Becher, Richard | 1775–78, 80, disq. Mar 1781. | |
Bensley, William | Oct 1781–84, 86–89, 91–94, 96–99, 1801–04, 06–09 | |
Boddam, Charles | 1769, 72–75, 77–80, 82–d. 84 | |
Boehm, Edmund | 1784–7 | |
Booth, Benjamin | 1767–70, 72–73, 75–78, 80–83 | |
Bootle, Robert | 1741–44, 46–49, 52–53, 55 | |
Bosanquet, Jacob (1) | 1759 | |
Bosanquet, Jacob (2) | Aug 1782–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–97*–98**, 1800–02*–03**, 05–08, 10*–11**–12**–13, 15–18, 20–23, 25–26, disq. Mar 1827. | |
Bosanquet, Richard | 1768–69, 71–72. | |
Boyd, John | 1753–56, 58, 59*, 60–61, 63–64 | |
Browne, John | 1757–60, 62–63 | |
Bryant, Jeremiah | Feb 1841–41, 43–45 | |
Burges, John Smith | 1773, 74, 76–79, 81–84, 86–89, 91**–92*–94, 96–99, 1801–03 | |
Burrow, Christopher | 1735–38, 40–43, 45–48, 50–53, 55–58, 60–61 | |
Burrow, Robert | 1762–64 | |
Campbell, Archibald M. | Feb 1796–96 | |
Campbell, Robert | Jul 1817, 19–22, 24–7, 29–30*–31**–32, 34–37, 39–42, 44–47, 49–52 | |
Carnac, James Rivett | Mar 1827–28, 30–33, 35*–36**–37**–38, disq. Dec 1838 | |
Caulfeild, James | 1848–51 | |
Chambers, Charles (1) | 1755–57, 63–66, 68 | |
Chambers, Charles (2) | 1770, 73 | |
Chauncey, Richard | 1737–40, 42–45, 1747**–48*–49**–50*, 52**–53*–54* | |
Cheap, Thomas | Aug 1777–78, 80–83, 85–88, 90-95 | |
Clarke, William Stanley | Mar 1815–15–16, 18–21, 23–26, 28–31, 33–34*–35**–36, 38–41, 43 | |
Clerk, Robert | Jul 1812, 14–15 | |
Cockburn, James | 1767–68, 70–71 | |
Colebrooke, George | 1767, 68*, 69**, 70**, 72** | |
Cotton, John | Apr 1833–33–34, 36–39, 41–42*–43**–44, 46–49, 51–53 | |
Cotton, Joseph | 1795–98, 1800–03, 05–08, 10–13, 15–18, 20–23, disq. May 1823 | |
Crabb-Boulton, Henry | 1753–56, 58–61, 63, 64*, 65**, 67, 68**, 69, 70, 72, 73** | |
Creed, James | 1758, 61 | |
Creswicke, Joseph | 1765–68 | |
Cruttenden, Edward Holden | 1765–68, 70–71 | |
Cuming, George | 1764–67, 69–72, Dec 73, 74–77, 79–82, 85–87 | |
Currie, Frederick | 1854–56, 57*, 58** | |
Cust, Peregrine | 1767, 68, 69* | |
Cutts, Charles | 1749–52, 58–61, 63–66. | |
Daniell, James | Oct 1809, 11–14, 16–19, 21–24, resigned Apr 1825 | |
Darell, Lionel | 1780–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–98, 1800–d. 3 Oct | |
Davis, Samuel | Oct 1810–12, 14–17, 19 | |
Dempster, George | 1769, 72 | |
Dent, William | Jan 1851–51–53 | |
Dethick, Thomas | 1772 | |
Devaynes, William | 1770–73, 74–75, 77*–89*–80**, 82–83*–84*–85**, 87–88*–89**–90*, 92–93**–94**–95, 97–1800, 02–05, defeated Apr 1807 | |
Dorrien, John | 1755–58, 60, 61, 62*, 63** | |
Drake, Roger | 1738–41, 43–46, 48–51*, 53*–54**–55**–56, 58* | |
Du Cane, Peter | 1750–53 | |
Du Cane, Peter | 1764, 66–69, 71–73 | |
Dudley, George | 1757–60, 62, 64, 65*, 66**, 67, 70, 71* | |
Dupre, Josias | 1765, 66 | |
Eastwick, William Joseph | Jun 1847, 49–52, 54–8*. | |
Edmonstone, Neil Benjamin | Oct 1820–2, 24–7, 29–32, 34–7, 39–41 | |
Ellice, Russell | Feb 1831, 32–5, 37–40, 42–5, 47–50, 52*–3**, 54–8. | |
Elphinstone, William Fullarton | Dec 1786–9, 91–4, 96–9, 1801–04**,06**–09,11–13*–14**, 16–19, 21–4, resigned Apr 1825 | |
Ewer, Walter | Dec 1790–Apr 91, 92–4, disq. Apr 1795 | |
Farquhar, Robert Townsend | Mar 1826–26–28 | |
Fergusson, Robert Cutlar | Feb 1830–30–31, 33–5, disq. Jun 1835. | |
Fitzhugh, Thomas | Aug 1785, 87–90, 92–5, 97–9 | |
Fletcher, Henry | 1769, 71–75, 77–80, 82***–83**, resigned Nov 1783 | |
Fonnereau, Zachary Philip | 1753–54 | |
Forbes, John | Apr 1830, 31–34, 36–9 | |
Fraser, Simon | Feb 1791–91, 93–96, 98–1801, 03–06 | |
Freeman, William George | 1769, 74–76, 78–81 | |
Galloway, Archibald | Sep 1840, 42–45, 47–48*–49**–50 | |
Gildart, Richard | 1759 | |
Godfrey, Peter | 1734–37, 39–42, 44–47, 49–52, 54–55**–56*–57, 59**, 60 | |
Gough, Charles | 1749-52, 54–57, 59–62 | |
Grant, Charles | May 1794–95, 97–1800, 02–04–*05**, 07*–08*–09**–10, 1215**, 17–20, 22–23 | |
Gregory, Robert | 1769–72, 75–78, 80–82**, resigned Aug 1782. | |
Hadley, Henry | 1757–60, 62–65 | |
Hall, Richard | 1773, 74, 76–79, 81–94, 86, d. Dec 1786 | |
Harrison, John | 1758–61, 63–66, 68–71, 73*, 74*–75**–77, 79–82 | |
Harrison, Samuel | 1759, 61–62 | |
Hawkesworth, John | Apr 1773–Nov 73 | |
Hogg, James Weir | Sep 1839–42, 44–45*–46**–47, 49–50*–51*–52**, 54–58 | |
Hudleston, John | 1803–06, 08–11, 13–16, 18–21, 23–35, disq. Mar 1826. | |
Hunter, John | 1781–84, 86–89, 91–94*, 96–99, 1801–02 | |
Hurlock, Joseph | 1768, 70–73 | |
Impey, Michael | 1736-39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–54, 56-57 | |
Inglis, Hugh | 1784–7, 89–92, 94–96*–97**, 99*, 1800**–02, 04–07, 09–11*–12* | |
Inglis, John | May 1803–04, 06–09, 11–14*, 16–19, 21–22 | |
Irwin, James | Apr 1795, 97 | |
Jackson, John | 1807–10, 12–15, 17–20 | |
Jackson, William Adair | Jan 1803–03–04 | |
James, William | 1768–71, 73, 74–76*, 78*–79**–80–81*, 83 | |
Jenkins, Richard | Jun 1832–5, 37–38*–39**–40, 42–45, 47–50, 52–53 | |
Johnstone, George | Jan 1784–84–85 | |
Jones, Robert | 1754–57, 65–68 | |
Lascelles, Peter | 1770, 72–75 | |
Law, Stephen | 1746-49, 51–54, 56 | |
Le Mesurier, Paul | 1784–7, 89–92, 94–7, 99–1802, 04–05 | |
Lindsay, Hugh | 1814–17, 19–22, 24–26*–27**, 29–32, 34–37, 39–42, 44 | |
Linwood, Nicholas | 1749-52, 54 | |
Loch, John | 1821–24, 26–28*–9**, 31–33**–34, 36*–39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–53 | |
Lumsden, John | Jan 1817, 18 | |
Lushington, James Law | Jul 1827–28, 30–33, 35–37*–38**, 40–41*–42**–43, 45–47*–48**, 50-53 | |
Lushington, Stephen | 1782–85, 87–89*–90**, 92–95**, 97–98*–99**–1800, 02–05 | |
Lyall, George | 1830–33, 35–38, 40*–41**–43, 45–48, 50, disq. Jan 1851 | |
Mabbott, William | 1741-44, 46–49, 51–54, 56 | |
Macnaghten, Elliot | Jun 1842–3, 45–48, 50–53, 54*, 55**, 56–58 | |
Mangles, Ross Donnelly | 1847–50, 52–3, 54, 55, 56*, 57**, 58 | |
Manship, John | 1755–58, 62–65, 67, 69–72, Dec 73, 74–77, 79–82, 84–87, 89–92, 94–97, 99–1802, 04–07, 09, disq. May 1809 | |
Marjoribanks, Campbell | 1807–10, 12–15, 17–18*–19**20, 22–24*–25**, 27–30, 32*–33**–35, 37–40 | |
Marjoribanks, Dudley Coutts | 1853 | |
Masterman, John | Nov 1823–5, 27–30, 325, 37–40, 42–45, 47–50, 52–53. | |
Melville, William Henry Leslie | Jul 1845–6, 48–51, 53–55. | |
Metcalfe, Thomas Theophilus | 1789–92, 94–97,9 9–1802, 04–07, 09–12 | |
Michie, John | 1770–75, 77–80, 83–86**, 88* | |
Millet, George | Jan 1806–06–07, 09–12 | |
Mills, Charles (1) | Aug 1785–6, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801 ***, 03–06, 08–11, 13–14, disq. Mar 1815. | |
Mills, Charles (2) | Aug 1822–24, 26–29, 31–34, 36–39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–58 | |
Mills, William | 1778–81, 83–85, disq. Aug 1785. | |
Moffat, James | 1774–7, 79–82, Dec 1784–85, 87–90 | |
Money, William | 1789–92, 94–5 | |
Money, William Taylor | Dec 1818, 20–23, 25, disq. Mar 1826. | |
Moore, James Arthur | May 1850, 52–53, d. Jul 1860. | |
Morris, John | 1814–17, 19–22, 24–7, 29–32, 34–7, disq. Jan 1838. | |
Motteux, John | 1769, 1784–86*–87** | |
Muspratt, John Petty | Mar 1824, 25–28, 30–33, 35–38, 40–43, 45–48, 50–53 | |
Newnham, Nathaniel | 1738-41, 43–46, 48–51, 53–56, 58 | |
Oliphant, James | Jan 1844–44–46, 48–51, 53*, 54**, 55–56, disq. Apr 1857 | |
Pardoe, John | 1765–68 | |
Parry, Edward | Apr 1797–97–98, 1800–03,0506*–07**–08**, 10–13, 15–18, 20–23, 25–27 | |
Parry, Richard | Aug 1815–17 | |
Parry, Thomas | Oct 1781, 83–86, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801, 03–06 | |
Pattison, James | Mar 1805, 06–09, 11–14, 16–17*–18**–19, 21*–22**–24, 26–27*–29, disq. Apr 1830. | |
Pattle, Thomas | 1787–90, 92–94, disq. Apr 1795 | |
Payne, John | 1741-44, 46–47, 49–52, 54–56*–57** | |
Peach, Samuel | 1773–74, 76–79, 81, disq. Oct 1781 | |
Peel, Laurence | 1857 | |
Phipps, Thomas | 1742-45, 47–50, 52–55, 57-58 | |
Pigou, Frederick | 1758–61, 63–66, 68–71, 73–77 | |
Plant, Henry | 1745-48, 50–53, 55-58 | |
Plowden, Richard Chicheley | 1803–06, 08–11, 13–16, 18–21, 23–6, 28–29 | |
Plowden, William Henry Chicheley | 1841–44, 46–49, 51–53 | |
Pollock, George | 1854–55, 58 | |
Prescott, Charles Elton | Jun 1820, 22–25, 27–30, 32 | |
Prinsep, Henry Thoby | Jul 1850–1, 53–58 | |
Purling, John | 1763–66, 68–69, 70*, 71**, 77–80 | |
Raikes, George | Mar 1817, 18–21, 23–26, 28–31, 33–36, disq. Jul 1836. | |
Ravenshaw, John Goldsborough | Jul 1819–22, 24–27, 29–31*–32**, 34–37, 39–40 | |
Rawlinson, Henry Creswicke | 1856–58 | |
Raymond, John | 1757–60 | |
Raymond, Jones | 1734-37, 39–42, 44–47, 49–52, 54-57 | |
Reid, Thomas | Nov 1803, 05–08, 10–13, 15*–16**–18, 20*–21**–23 | |
Rider, William | 1738-41, 43–46, 48–51, 53-54 | |
Robarts, Abraham | Mar 1786–86, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801, 03–06, 08–11, 1315, disq. Oct 1815. | |
Roberts, John | 1764–66, 67–70, 71–72, 75*–76**–78, Nov 80–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–98, 1800–01*–02**–03*, 05–08 | |
Robertson, Archibald | Jun 1841–42, 44–47 | |
Robinson, George Abercrombie | 1808–11, 13–16, 18–19*–20**–1, 23–5*–6**, 28, disq. Mar 1829. | |
Rooke, Giles | 1758–60, 61–64 | |
Rous, Thomas | 1758, 60*, 61*, 62**, 64**, 65, 66*, 67**, 70–71 | |
1773, 74, 76–79. | ||
1772, 75–77, resigned Aug 1777 | ||
Saunders, Thomas | 1765–66, 67* | |
Savage, Henry | 1755–58, 60–62, 64–67, 70–77, 79–82 | |
Dec 1788–91, 93–95*–96**, 98–1800*–01**, resigned Apr 1802 | ||
Scott, David (2) | 1814–17, 19–20, disq. Aug 1820 | |
Scrafton, Luke | 1765–68 | |
Seward, Richard | 1759, 61–63. | |
Shank, Henry | 1831–34, 36–39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–53. | |
Jun 1835–6, 38–41, 43*–44**–46, 48–49*–50**–51**, 53–58 | ||
Smith, George | Apr 1795, 97–1800, 02–05*, 07–10, 12–15, 17–20, 22–5, 27–30, 32–3, disq. Jul 1833. | |
Dec 1838, 40–43, 45–48, 50–58 | ||
Smith, John (see Burges, John Smith) | ||
1771–72 | ||
1774–75, 77–80, 82*–83***–84**–85*, 87*–88**–90, 92–94 | ||
Smith, Richard | 1759–62, 64 | |
Smith, Samuel | 1783–86, disq. Jul 1786. | |
Snell, William | 1762–64, 67–69. | |
Sparkes, Joseph | 1773–74, 76–79, 81–84, 86–89 | |
Stables, John | 1774–76, 78–81, disq. Oct 1781. | |
Steevens, George | 1758–60, 62, 63 | |
Stephenson, John | 1765–68 | |
Stuart, James[3] | 1826–9, 31–2 | |
Sulivan, Laurence | 1758**, 60**, 61**, 63*, 64, 69, 71, 72*, 78–80*–81**, 83–85 | |
Sykes, William Henry | Jul 1840–42, 44–47, 49–52, 54–55*–56**–58 | |
Tatem, George | 1772–74, 76–79, 81–84, Jul 1786, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801 | |
Taylor, John Bladen | Jan 1810, 11–14, 16–19 | |
Thelusson, George Woodford | Sep 1796–7, 99–1802, 04–07 | |
Thornhill, John | Oct 1815–16, 18–21, 23–26, 28–31, 33–36, 38–40 | |
Thornton, Robert | Dec 1787–88, 90–93, 95–98, 1800–03, 05–08, 10–13** disq. Apr 1814. | |
Thornton, William (1) | 1759, 61–64. | |
Thornton, William (2) (see Astell, William Thornton) | ||
Toone, Sweny | Mar 1798–98–1800, 02–05, 07–10, 12–15, 17–20, 22–25, 27–30, disq. Feb 1831. | |
Townson, John | Mar 1781, 81–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–96 | |
Travers, John | 1786–89, 91–94, 96–99, 1801–04, 06–09 | |
Tucker, Henry St. George | 1826–29, 31–33*–34**, 36–39, 41–44, 46*–47**–49, 51 | |
Tullie, Timothy | 1750-53, 55–58, 60–63 | |
Turner, Whichcott | 1742-45, 47–50, 52-55 | |
Twining, Richard | 1810–13, 15–16, disq. Jan 1817 | |
Vansittart, Henry | 1769 | |
Verelst, Harry | 1771 | |
Vivian, John Hussey | 1856–58. | |
Walpole, Hon. Thomas | 1753-54 | |
Walton, Bourchier | 1759, 60–62, d. Jun 1779. | |
Ward, Edward | 1762, d. Sep 1762. | |
Warden, Francis | Jul 1836, 38–41, 43–46, 48–50, disq. Jul 1850. | |
Warner, Richard | 1760–63. | |
Wartalop, Charles | 1769, 72, 73, 74–75, 77–80, 82–84 | |
Waters, Thomas | 1759–62 | |
Webber, William | 1762–65 | |
Western, Maximilian | 1755-57 | |
Wheler, Edward | 1765–68, 70–72–73**, 74**–76. | |
Whiteman, John Clarmont | May 1844–7, 49–52 | |
Wier, Daniel | 1768–73, 74–76 | |
Wigram, William | May 1809–12, 15–18, 20–22*–23**, 25–28,30–3*, 35–38, 40–43, 45–48, 50–53 | |
Wilberforce, William | 1753–54 | |
Wilkinson, Jacob | 1782–3, resigned Nov 1783 | |
Williams, Robert | 1809–12, d. Jul 1812 | |
Williams, Stephen | Mar 1790, 91–94, 96–99, 1801–04 | |
Willock, Henry | Jan 1838, 39–42, 44*–45**–47, 49–52, 54–58 | |
Willoughby, John Pollard | 1854–8 | |
Willy, William | 1746-49, 51-54 | |
Winter, James | 1737-40, 42–45, 47–50, 52-54 | |
Wombwell, George | 1766–68, 75–77**–78**, 80, d. Nov 1780 | |
Woodhouse, John | 1768–71, 73–76, 78–81, Jan 1784–84–86, 88–90, disq. Feb 1791 | |
Young, William | Mar 1829–29–31, 33–36, 38–41, 43–46 | |
Prior to 1714 the Chairman and Deputy Chairman were appointed at each meeting of the Court.[4]