Governor-General of India

The Governor-General of India was the head of the British colonial government in India from 1773 until 1947, and the head of state for an independent India from 1947 to 1950. The position was abolished in 1950 and replaced with the President of India.

The office was first established in when the British Parliament passed the India Regulating Act. The Act changed to charter of the East India Company and represented the first step towards direct colonial government, the British Raj.

To recognize India's importance in the British Empire, the Governor-General's position was given the title of Viceroy. When India gained independence in 1947, the old title was revived and in 1948 Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (popularly known as Rajaji and C.R.) became the only native to ever hold the post. The post was abolished after his term of office under the new Indian constitution and replaced with a presidency.

List of Governor-Generals

1. 1773-1786 Warren Hastings
2. 1786-1793 Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
3. 1793-1797 John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth
4. 1797-1805 Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
5. 1805-1805 Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
6. 1805-1807 George Hilario Barlow
7. 1807-1813 Gilbert Elliot, 1st Earl of Minto
8. 1813-1823 Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of Hastings
9. 1823-1828 William Pitt Amherst, Earl Amherst
10. 1828-1835 Lord William Cavendish-Bentinck
11. 1835-1842 George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland
12. 1842-1844 Edward Law, 2nd Baron Ellenborough
13. 1844-1848 Henry Hardinge, Viscount Hardinge
14. 1848-1856 James Andrew, Maquess of Dalhousie
15. 1856-1858 Charles John Canning, 2nd Viscount Canning

    1858-1947 Viceroy of India

16. 1947-1948 Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
17. 1948-1950 Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)