VICEROYS

Lord Viscount Canning (1858-1862) :

1. Real name – Charles john
2. His father George Canning was the PM of England.
3. Queen Victoria’s proclamation and the Government of India Act of 1858. It ended
the rule of East India Company. Transfer of control from East India company to
crown.
4. Indigo disputes, took place in Bengal in 1859.
5. White munity by the European troops of the E.I.C.O took place in 1859.
6. Enactment of Indian penal code in 1862.
7. Withdrawal of Doctrine of Lapse.
8. In 1861, Indian Council act was passed which proved to be the landmark in the
constitution history of India.
9. In 1861, enactment of code of criminal procedures.
10. In 1861, the enactment of the Indian High Court act and Famine took place in North
western province.
11. Income tax was introduced for the first time in 1860.
12. He is known as Clemency viceroy.
13. Transfer of Indian Navy to admiralty.

14. He is known as clemency viceroy.

Lord Elgin I (March, 1862 - Nov, 1863) :

1. Real name – James Bruce.
2. Countermen of first MA degree from Calcutta University.
3. Ambala campaign started 1863.
4. Death of Dast Muhammad and Afghan war of Succession started in 1863.
5. His sudden death in 1863.
6. Administration carried on by Sir Napier and Sir Denison.

Sir Lord Napier :

1. Officiation – Nov, 1863 – Dec, 1863.
Sir William T Denison :
1. Officiation – Dec, 1863 – Jan, 1864

Sir John Lawrence (1864 - 1869) :

1. Real name – Sir John Layard Mayer Lawrence.
2. War with Bhutan in 1856.
3. Indo-European Telegraph from Karachi, Porain and Turkey in 1865.
4. Famine commission.
5. Nabagopal Mitra founded Hindu Mela and National Mela.
6. ‘Masterly inactivity’ policy was followed.
7. In 1865, the famine took place in Orissa. Telegraphic communication with Europe
opened.
8. Establishment of High courts at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1865.
9. In 1868, Punjab Tenancy act passed.
10. In 1868, annual grant of six lakhs of rupees to Sher Ali, Amir of Afghan and railway
opened from Ambala to Delhi.
11. In 1866, Rajnarayan Basu established “Society for the promotion of National
feeling”.

Lord Mayo (Jan, 1869 - Feb, 1872) :

1. Real name – Richard Southweal Bouke.
2. Beginning of the system of state railway.
3. Establishment of colleges for the education and political training of the Indian
princes. Rajkot college at Kathiawar and the Mayo college at Ajmer.
4. Organisation of statistical survey of India in 1871 and establishment of department
of agriculture and commerce.
5. Initiated the process of financial decentralization in India. In 1870, he took first step
in the direction of separation of central and provincial finances.
6. In 1872, a convict in the Andamans assassinated Mayo.
7. The only viceroy to be murdered in the office.

Sir John Strachey :

1. Officiation – Feb, 1872 – Feb, 1872.

Lord Napier of Merchistoun :

 1. Officiation – Feb, 1872 – May, 1872.

Lord Northbook (May, 1872 – 12th April, 1876) :

1. Real name – Thomas George Baring.
2. In 1872, Kuka revolt took place in Punjab. Leader of Kuka movement was Ram Sing.
3. Visit of Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) in 1875.
4. Resign on the Afghan question.

5. Dramatic performance Act bill resoluted during his time.

Lord Lytton (April, 1876 - June, 1880) :

1. Real name – Edward Robert Bullwar.
2. Lord Lytton is known as Brilliant Failure. This epithet was given by historian Percival
Spear. He also known as Most unpopular Viceroy of India and Man in reverse
character.
3. The British parliament passed the Royal Title Act, 1876, investing Queen Victoria
with the title of Kaiser – I – Hind or the queen empress of India.
4. Imperial Durbar at Delhi in 1877, to commemorate the assumption of the title of
queen empress of India by Queen Victoria. The country at this time was suffering
from a severe famine.
5. Proposed to constitute Imperial Privy Council comprising of Princes.
6. Vernacular Press act and Arms act 1878. These were the repressive measures of
Lytton against the rising wave of Indian Nationalism.
7. In 1878, appointment of the First Famine Commission under Sir Richard Strachey,
the finance member of the Viceroy council.
8. Proposed the plan of statutory civil service in 1878 – 79 and lowered the maximum
age limit of civil service from 21 to 19 years.
9. 2nd Anglo-Afghan war in 1878 – 80 and fight of Sher Ali which proved a failure.
10. The provincial govt. was given the control of the expenditure upon all ordinary
provincial services including land revenue, excise, stamps, law, justice and general
administration.
11. On 16th Dec, 1876, Dramatic Control Bill was passed by British govt. (act no. XIX of
16th Dec, 1876)
His pseudonym is Owen Meridith. He was a poet and story writer. He wrote
‘Lucile’(1860), The Wanderer(1859), Fables in song(1874) and others.

Lord Ripon (June, 1880 - Dec, 1884) :

1. Real name – George Fredrik Samuel Robinson.
2. Repeated the vernacular press act 1882.
 3. First factory act, 1881.
4. First census took place in 1881. The population estimated 254 million.
5. Continued the process of Decentralization. Division of the finance of the centre in
1882.
6. Introduction of Local Self Govt in 1882. He called the ‘Father Of Local Self Govt’.
7. Approach Hunter commission in 1882 to review the education.
8. Sir C.P. Ilbert was law member of the viceroy council, introduced a bill on 2nd Feb,
1883. The bill sought to abolish at once and completely every judicial
disqualification based merely on racial discrimination.
9. The Ilbert bill controversy (1883 – 1884) started during his time.
10. Resolution on land revenue policy.
11. Rendition of Mysore.
12. In 1883, famine code formulated.
Lord Dufferin (Dec, 1884 - Dec, 1888) :
1. Real name – Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood.
2. In 1885, two acts passed – a. Bengal tenancy act.
b. Bengal local self govt act.

3. Third Anglo-Burmese war (1885-1886).

4. In 1886, Burma (upper) was annexed and delimitation of Afghan Northern boundary
took place.
5. Hospitals with modern facilities.
6. Formation of Indian National Congress. At that time secretary of state was Lord
Randolph Churchill.
7. Sir Charles Aitchison committee, 1886 (civil service commission).

Lord Lansdowne (Dec, 1888 - Jan, 1894) :

1. Real name – Charles Maurice Petty-Fitzmaurice.
2. His grandfather Lord Shelburne was the prime minister of England.
3. 2nd visit f Prince of Wales in 1889.
4. 1891, 2nd factory act passed.
5. In 1891, military expedition against Manipur was conducted.
6. In 1892, the Indian Council Act passed.
7. Division of the Civil Services into Imperial, Provincial and sub-ordinate.
8. Appointment of Durand commission in 1893. It defined the boundary known as
Durand line between British India and Afghanistan.
 Lord Elgin II (Jan, 1894 - Jan, 1899) :
1. Real name – Victor Alexander Bruce.
2. The Santhal uprising of 1899.
3. In 1896, famine took place all over the India. Lyall Commission was appointed
after famine.
4. In 1897, plague broke out at Bombay.
5. Assassination of two British official by the Chapekar brothers of poone in 1897.

Lord Curzon (1st appointed 1899 – April, 1904, 2nd appointment Dec, 1904 –
Aug, 1905) :
1. Real name – George Nathaniel Curzon.
2. He wrote, ‘Problem of the East’.
3. Calcutta corporation act 1899.
4. The Indian coinage and paper currency act 1899.
5. In 1900, a famine took place and north west frontier province formed.
6. Punjab Land Alienation Act 1901.
7. In 1901, a commission was appointed under the chairmanship of Sir Colin Scott
Moncrieff to investigate into the whole question of irrigation. The work on
Jhelum canal was completed.
8. A famine commission was appointed under the chairmanship of Sir Anthony
MacDonnell.
9. Appointed of police commission (1902) under Sir Andrew Frazer to review the
police administration and suggest reform.
10. Appointed a commission under Thomas Raleigh in 1902 to suggest reforms
regarding universities. On its recommendation, the Indian Universities Act 1904
passed.
11. Coronation Darbar 1903 marked the accession of Edward Fraser.
12. Ancient monument presentation act, 1904.
13. Implemented the co-operative credit societies Act1904.
14. In 1904, Colonel Younghusbands expedition against Tibet was sent.
15. Bengal partition 1905 (it was the cardinal blunder of Curzon).
16. Imperial agricultural research institute at Pusa in Delhi.
17. A new department of commerce and industry was established.
18. Built a far great mileage of railway lines than any other viceroy had done so far.
He was responsible for setting of railway board.
19. Resigned from his office because of his controversy with Kitchener (Aug 1905).
This is popularly known as ‘Curzon-Kitchener controversy’.
Lord Ampthill :

1. Officiation – April, 1904 – Dec, 1904.

2. Real name – Arthur Oliver Villiers Russell.
3. After Dec, 1904, Lord Curzon re-appointed as India’s Viceroy.

Lord Minto II (1905 - 1910) :

1. Real name – Gilbert John Eliot.
2. On 16th Oct, 1905 partition of Bengal came into force. It gave birth to Anti
partition and Swadeshi movement.
3. In 1906, foundation stone of Victoria Memorial Hall laid at Calcutta.
4. In oct 1906, Arundel committee on political reforms submitted its report.
5. In 1906, Lord Minto received the Muslim deputation headed by Agah Khan.
Foundation of Muslim League 1906.
6. In 1907, Indian Decentralization committee appointed.
7. On May 11, 1907, the seditious meetings act passed.
8. Surat session and split in congress 1907.
9. On June 8, 1908, two acts passed – i. Explosive substance act passed and
ii. Newspaper (incitement of offenses) act.
10. Morley Minto reforms or the Indian Council Act of 1909.
11. 1910 – Press act was passed.
12. In 1910, department of education under a separate member of the viceroy’s
executive council established.
13. On June 22, 1910, coronation of George V.

Lord Hardinge II (Jan, 1910 - 1916) :

1. Real name - Charles Hardinge.
2. Partition of Bengal annulled. Capital shifted to Delhi. Delhi Darbar on 12th Dec,
1911.
3. On 23rd December 1911, bomb thrown at Lord Hardinge.
4. Coronation Durbar king George V and queen Mary at Delhi (dec 1911).
5. In 1912, Islington commission on civil services constituted.
6. In 1913, Indian criminal law amendment was passe.
7. In 1914, forest research institute and college opened at Dehradun.
8. In 1914, government commercial institution, Calcutta and the Sydenham college
of commerce and economics, Bombay was found.
9. On 29th sept 1914, Kamagata Maru arrives at Budge Budge.
10. In 1915, Indian Independence committee in Germany.
 11. Death of Gokhale, 1915.
12. Foundation of Hindu Mahasabha in 1915, Madan Mohon Malviya and others.

Lord Chelmsford (1916 - 1921) :

1. Real name - Frederic John Napier Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford.
2. In 1916, Saddler Committee on universities appointed.
3. On 20th June 1916, women university founded in Poona.
4. On 28th April, 1916, Tilak founded Indian Home Rule league.
5. Gandhi returned from south Africa. Foundation of Sabarmati Ashram 1916.
Satyagraha at Champaran 1917, Ahmedabad 1918 and Khaira 1918.
6. September 1916, Home Rule League finally inaugurated by Besant.
7. Lucknow session and reunion of congress. Mrs. Besant played an important role
to this reunion.
8. Lucknow pact between the congress and the league 1916. Tilak played an
important role in this.
9. Foundation of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute at Poona in July, 1917.
10. In July 1917, Austen Chamberlain resigns and succeeded by Montague as
secretary of state for India. August declaration by Montague 1917. Montford
reforms or The Government of India Act Of 1919.
11. November 1917, J.C Bose founded Bose research institute.
12. Saddler commission on education in 1917.
13. Appointment of SP Sinha as the Lieutenant Governor of Bihar. Sir Sinha was the
first Indian to be appointed as governor and 2nd member of the British
parliament, the first one was Dadabhai Naoroji.
14. On 10th Nov, Rowlett Committee appointed and submitted its report in April,
1918.
15. Resignation of some moderate leaders, led by S.N Banerjee, from the congress
and foundation of Indian Liberal Federation 1918.
16. Lahore high court found in 1919.
17. Rowlett act 1919, and Jallianwala Bag massacre 13th April 1919.
18. 5th May, 1919, Third Afghan war started.
19. Formation of Khilafat committee and launching of Khilafat movement.
20. Death of Tilak, 1st August, 1920.
21. 8th August, 1919, treaty of peace signed with Afghanistan and Rawalpindi.
22. In 1920, Aligarh Muslim university was found.
23. In 1920, central advisory board on education was founded.
24. November 1920, Shiomani Gurdwara committee was formed.
25. Launching non-corporation movement (1920-1922).
 26. In 1921, Shore committee appointed to prepare a scheme for the complete
Indianisation of the officers in the Indian army.
27. In 1921, construction of the Victoria Memorial Hall in Calcutta completed
excepted for the four corner cupolas, which were put up in 134.
28. On 17th November 1921, Prince of Wales lands in Bombay.

Lord Reading (1921 - 1926) :

1. Real name – Rufus Daniel Isaacs.
2. He was Jewis Viceroy.
3. In 1921, Visvabharati University started by Rabindranath Tagore.
4. Moplah rebellion in kerala 1921.
5. Chauri-Chaura incident 5th Feb, 1922 and the withdrawal of NCM by Gandhi.
6. Formation of Swaraj Party by C.R Das and Motilal Nehru in dec 1922.
7. Repeal of Press act 1910 and the Rowlett act 1919.
8. Resolution passed for the holding of simultaneous examination for ICS in
England and India from 1923.
9. In 1923 – 1924, Lee commission on Civil Services submitted its report.
10. In 1925, Devdasi system was abolished by an act.
11. On June 1925, Indian Sandhurst Committee (also known as Skeen) was
appointed on the employment of Indians in the army.
12. On 9th August train robbery at Kakori.
13. On 22nd August 1925, VJ Patel elected the first Indian president of the legislative
assembly.
14. Foundation of communist party of India in 1925.
15. Foundation of Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangha by K.B Hegdewar at Nagpur in
1925.
16. Murder of Swami Shraddhananda on December 1926.

Lord Lytton II (1925 - 1926) :

1. Real name – Victor Alexander George Robert Bulwer Lytton.

Lord Irwin (1926 - 1931) :

1. Real name – Edward Frederick Lindley Wood.
2. Popularly known as Christian Viceroy.
3. In 1926, Indian school of mines opened at Dhanbad.
4. Appointed of the Simon commission (Nov, 1927).
 5. In 1927, Sadananda starts the Free Press of India News Agency.
6. Royal commission on agriculture was constituted in 1927.
7. Appointment of the Harcourt Butter Indian States Commission in Nov 1927, to
recommend the measures for the establishment of better relation between the
Indian states and the central Government.
8. Convening of the All India State People Conference in Dec 1927 by the state
people.
9. On 3rd Feb 1928, Simon Commission arrives in Bombay.
10. Meeting of the First All India Youth Congress in Dec 1928.
11. In 1929, Imperial Council of Agricultural Research set up and Hartog committee
was appointed to give its report on the growth of education of British India and
potentialities if its progress.
12. 20th March 199, 21 members of communist party were arrested in the Meerut
Conspiracy Case.
13. On 29th March 1929, Jinnah formulated 14 points.
14. 8th April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutta drop bombs at legislative
assembly.
15. 31st Oct 1929, Lord Irwin announced that the goal of the British policy was the
attainment of Dominion status by India. This announcement also known as
“Deepavali Declaration.
16. 12th March 1930, Gandhi started Dandi March.
17. 18th April 1930, Chittagong Armoury Raid.
18. 7th June 1930, Simon commission report published.
19. On 13th Feb 1931, capital transfer from Delhi to New Delhi.
20. 12th Nov 1930, the First Round Table Conference (RTC) inaugurated by George V
and continued up to 19th Jan 1931.
21. 17th Feb 1931, Gandhi-Irwin talks begin and concluded on 5th March. Suspension
of CDM in March 1931.
22. 12th Sept 1931, Gandhi arrives in London.
Lord Willington (1931 - 1936) :
1. Real name - Freeman Freeman Thomas.
2. 1st December 1931, Ramsay Macdonald (British PM). Announces the decision to
constitute NWEP into a Governor’s province and Sindh was made a separate
province.
3. Partition of Gandhi in the 2nd Round Table conference (sept, 1931). 28th Dec
1931, Gandhi arrive Bombay, after the failure of the conference. Resumption of
C.D.M. Final suspension of the movement in May 1934.
4. 16th August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald announced communal award. Gandhi’s
fast unto death in the Yeravda jail and on 24th September 1932, the Poona Pact
was signed.
 5. 7th Nov to 24th Dec 1932, the Third Round Table conference took place.
6. Foundation of Congress Socialist Party by Acharya Narendra Dev and Jai Prakash
Narayan 1934.
7. Government of India Act 1935.
8. Separation of Burma from India 1935.
9. Formation of All India Kishan Sabha in 1936.

Lord Linlithgow (1936 - 1943) :

1. Real name – Victor Alexandra John Hope.
2. June 1937, A. Abott and S.H. Wood submit their report on technical education in
India.
3. Formation of congress ministers in majority of the provinces 1937.
4. October 1937, Gandhi formulated Wardha Educational Scheme.
5. Election of S.C Bose as the president of the congress in fifty first session in 1938,
after defeating the Gandhi’s candidate Pattavi Sitaramayya.
6. Registration of S.C Bose from the presidentship of Congress and its membership
in 1939.
7. Formation of Forward Bloc.. by S.C Bose 1939.
8. Resignation of congress ministries after the outbreak of World War II 1939.
Registration of congress ministries as the Deliverance Day.
9. Muslim League passed the Lahore resolution 23rd March 1940, demanding
separate state for Muslim. It was at the session that Jinnah propounded the
Two Nation theory.
10. August offer by Viceroy 1940, congress reject it.
11. 17th Oct-17th Dec 1940, Individual Satyagraha launched.
12. Escaped of S.C Bose from India 1941.
13. 23rd March 1942-10th April 1942, Cripps Mission. It offered Dominion status,
which was rejected by congress.
14. 7th August 1942, congress session started in Bombay. Passing of the Quit India
resolution 8th August 1942 and launching of Quit India movement started.
Lord Wavell (1943 - 1947) :
1. Real name – Archibald Pereival Wavell.
2. C.R formula evolved by Raja Gopalachri in 1944 and Gandhi-Jinnah talks based
on it 1944, failed to provide any solution to Communal conflicts in India.
3. Divide and Quit slogan at the Karachi session 1944 of the league.
4. 25th June 1945, Shimla conference to discuss Wavell plan begins.
5. End of the 2nd World War 1945.
 6. 28th January 1946, Wavell announced Government’s intention to set up an
executive council of political leaders.
7. 18th February 1946, Mutiny of the Indian Naval ratings in Bombay. I.N.A trails
begin 1946.
8. 15th March 1946, Attlee announces the Cabinet Mission. Cabinet mission under
Patrick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A.V Alexander, arrives in Delhi on 24 th
March 1946.
9. 6th August 1946, Wavell invites Nehru to form an interim Govt.
10. 16th August 1946, Muslim League begins the ‘Direct Action Day’.
11. Formation of Interim Govt. by the congress in sept, 1946. Muslim League joined
it in Oct, 1946.
12. 9th Dec 1946, Constituent Assembly meets at New Delhi. Muslim League
abstained from it.
13. 5th January 1947, All India Congress Committee accepts provincial grouping under
the Cabinet Mission Plan.
14. 20th Feb 1947, Attlee announced the End of British Rule in India.

Lord Mountbatten (1947 – 1948) :

1. Real name – Prince Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas.
2. Sworn in as viceroy on 24th March 1947.
3. 2nd June 1947, Mountbatten plan was announced.
4. 3rd June 1947, the Plan of Partition of India was announced.
5. 4th June 1947, Mountbatten announces transfer of power on August 15th.
6. 4th July India Independence Bill was introduced in the House of Commons.
7. 6th July, referendum took place in NWEP, boycotted by Abdul Gaffer Khan.
8. 11th Aug 1947, constitute assembly of Pakistan meets and elects Jinnah as a
president.
9. On 15th August 1947 independence.
10. India got dominion status in the 15th August 1947.
11. Ayesha Jalal wrote the book – “The Sole Spokesman” based on Md. Jinnah.

C. Rajagopalachari (1948 - 1950) :

1. The last Governor General of free India. *1st being Mountbatten.
2. The only Indian Governor General and remind in the office till January 1950.
3. 1st Governor of West Bengal.
4. Md. A. Jinnah 1st president of Pakistan.
5. Liaquat Ali Khan 1st P.M of Pakistan.