New Delhi: Warren Hastings, along with Robert Clive, played a crucial role in laying the foundation of the British Empire in India. The British colonial administrator was the Presidency of Fort William’s first governor (in Bengal). He later became the Supreme Council of Bengal’s head and Bengal’s first governor-general in 1772–1785. An energetic reformer and organiser, he led the forces of the East India Company against a coalition of native states and the French. The British side won while the French lost influence in India. In 1787, he was impeached based on accusations of corruption but was eventually acquitted in 1795.
Warren Hastings and his arrival to India
Born on December 6, 1732, Warren Hastings arrived in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in August 1750. He learned the local languages and about India and gained promotion, learning more about the politics of East India with each passing day. At that time, the political situation in Bengal was tumultuous and Siraj ud-Daulah became the Nawab of Bengal. He was for his anti-European views and after coming to power, he invaded Calcutta and locked up the British soldiers and civilians in the Black Hole.
The conquest of Bengal
For a while, Hastings remained in Murshidabad and later escaped to Fulta. After Robert Clive arrived from Madras, the British regained Calcutta in January 1757. Clive, in the meantime, was impressed with Hastings. In 1757, in the Battle of Plassey, the British troops decisively defeated the forces of the Nawab. Siraj ud-Daulah was replaced by Mir Jafar. Hastings established a good rapport with Mir Jafar and supported the latter when the British replaced him with Mir Qasim. Hastings tried to end the trading abuses in Bengal but could do little to do it. Later, he went back to London but lost all his fortune, and hence had to return to India.
Becoming the Governor-General of Bengal
In his second venture in India, Hastings arrived in Madras after the First Anglo-Mysore War of 1767–1769. He agreed with Clive that Calcutta, Madras and Bombay need to be united and governed as a single entity. In 1772, he became Calcutta’s governor and he became the first governor general in 1773. Hastings tried to reform the trading abuse in Bengal and was an honest and upright person who took a moderate approach to wars and began the process of consolidating the control of the British Empire in India through proper administration. Even though he was impeached after his return to England, he was eventually acquitted and he passed away on August 22, 1818.
Hastings tried to reform the trading abuse in Bengal and was an honest and upright person who took a moderate approach to wars and began the process of consolidating the control of the British Empire in India through proper administration. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
