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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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East India Company
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Granted a charter by Elizabeth I in 1600 to trade with the East Indies, the company soon concentrated on India where competition with the Dutch was less intense. By 1700 it was trading from fortified townships at *Bombay, *Madras and *Calcutta, which later became the capitals of the company's three presidencies.
In the 18C the power of the company was for the first time extended by military means, particularly under Robert *Clive. With almost unlimited opportunities for corruption, company officials were soon returning with vast fortunes to Britain, where they became known as 'nabobs' (a version of the Indian word nawab, a princely ruler). Resentment of the nabobs played a large part in the impeachment of Warren *Hastings.
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The company extended its power through India by war and by a series of protective alliances with individual kingdoms, until by the 19C (when it was known colloquially as John Company) it had become a vast administrative and military organization. The cost of running this was increasingly supported by an unsavoury trade, the export of opium from India to sell in China – a prolonged abuse which led to the *Opium Wars.
The company lasted until 1858, by which time the *Indian Mutiny had persuaded the government in London to take direct charge of Indian affairs.
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