Viceroy of India: Know about Governor-General of India

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Feb 5, 2022, 9:54

When the East India Company first came to India for business, a Governor-General and Viceroy of India was assigned by the Imperial Kingdom or Britain, who would govern and be the administrative head of the country and represent the Queen herself. The position was created in 1773 when the British Parliament overhauled East India Company's management to establish dominion over India.

The Governor-General initially exercised control solely over the Presidency of Fort William and supervised the East India Company's operations in India. It was only after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 that, in 1858, when the British Raj established its complete reign over India the position came to be known as the Governor-General and Viceroy of India.

Warren Hastings, in 1773, became the first Governor-General of India. In 1858, when the British Raj took over the East India Company's dominion, Viscount Canning - renowned as Lord Canning - became the first Viceroy of India. The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, known as Lord Mountbatten, was the last Viceroy of India and was in power till India gained Independence in 1947. 

A Comprehensive List of All the Viceroys of India

From 1858 till 1947, India was administered by numerous Viceroys. While some of them shaped India's history in a positive way, many of them are known for their viciousness towards the Indians. Here's a comprehensive list of all the Viceroys of India:

Sr. No.

Name of the Viceroy

Term From

To

1

The Viscount of Canning

1 November 1958

21 March 1862

2

The Earl of Elgin

21 March 1862

20 November 1863

3

Robert Napier (Acting)

21 November 1863

2 December 1863

4

William Denison (Acting)

2 December 1863

12 January 1864

5

Sir Lawrence, Bt

12 January 1864

12 January 1869

6

The Earl of Mayo

12 January 1869

8 February 1872

7

Sir John Strachey (Acting)

9 February 1872

23 February 1872

8

Lord Napier (Acting)

24 February 1872

3 May 1872

9

Lord Northbrook

3 May 1872

12 April 1876

10

Lord Lytton

12 April 1876

8 June 1880

11

The Marquess of Ripon

8 June 1880

13 December 1884

12

The Earl of Dufferin

13 December 1884

10 December 1888

13

The Marquess of Lansdowne 

10 December 1888

11 October 1894

14

The Earl of Elgin

11 October 1894 

6 January 1899

15

The Lord Curzon of Kedleston

6 January 1899

18 November 1905

16

The Earl of Minto

18 November 1905

23 November 1910

17

The Lord Hardinge of Penshurst 

23 November 1910

4 April 1916

18

The Lord Chelmsford

4 April 1916

2 April 1921

19

The Earl of Reading

2 April 1921

3 April 1926

20

Lord Irwin

3 April 1926

18 April 1931

21

The Earl of Willingdon

18 April 1931

18 April 1936

22

The Marquess of Linlithgow

18 April 1936

1 October 1943

23

The Viscount Wavell

1 October 1943

21 February 1947

24

The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma

21 February 1943

15 August 1947

Viceroys of India after the Indian Independence

Even after India gained Independence, the Viceroys were appointed by the British Raj till the Constitution was written and implemented. The first Viceroy of independent India was Lord Mountbatten (1947 - 1948) and the second and last Viceroy of India (and the only Indian in this position) was Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1948 - 1950).

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FAQs about Viceroy of India

  • Who was the first Viceroy of India?

The first Governor-General and Viceroy of India (after the British Raj took over the East India Company) was the Viscount of Canning or Lord Canning. 

  • Who was the last Viceroy of India?

The last Viceroy of India (pre-Independence) was Lord Mountbatten. 

  • Who was the only Indian Viceroy of India?

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari was the only Indian Viceroy of India (after Independence).