Home > Indian History > History of India > Lord Wellesley
Lord Wellesley
Lord Wellesley was one of the important Indian Governor Generals who contributed in the expansion of British Government. He was an Irish and British politician and colonial administrator.

Share this Article:

Lord Wellesley, Indian Governor GeneralLord Wellesley served as the Governor General of India from 1798-1805 AD after Lord Cornwallis and Sir John Shore. He was an Irish and British politician and colonial administrator. Lord Wellesley was an excellent administrator who came to India in 1798 at a time when the British were locked in a life and death struggle with France all over the world. Lord Wellesley remained Governor General of Fort Williams from 1798 to 1805. During his tenure of seven years, Lord Wellesley became successful in defeating the adversaries of the English Company. Wellesley died on 26th September 1842.

Early Life of Lord Wellesley
Lord Wellesley was born in 1760 in Ireland, where his family was a part of the Ascendancy. He was educated at Harrow School and Eton College where he distinguished himself as a classical scholar and at Christ Church, Oxford. He is one of the few men known to have attended both Harrow and Eton.

Lord Wellesley in Politics
In 1781, he entered the Irish House of Lords as he was declared the second earl of Mornington after his father`s death. He entered the House of Commons as member for Bere Alston in 1784 and later William Pitt the Younger appointed him as a Lord of the Treasury. Soon afterwards, he became a member of the Board of Control over Indian affairs. With the time he gained acquaintance with Oriental affairs and was also best known for his speeches in defense of Pitt`s foreign policy.

He was a member of the Parliament for several years and the board of control from 1795. This enabled him to rule over India effectively after his acceptance of the office of Governor-General of India in 1797. At the age of 37 years he was appointed Governor General on 18th May 1798. His term of office for seven years introduced an important phase in the development of British power in India and his policy allowed him to remove all kinds of French influence from India and to make the British the paramount power of the subcontinent. He succeeded in his job by implementing wars as well as by peaceful annexations.

Work of Lord Wellesley In India
The Indian states and rulers who entered into Wellesley"s "Subsidiary Alliance System" were Mysore, Hyderabad, Tanjore, Berar, Awadh, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Macheri, Bundi and Peshwa. In the eyes of Lord Wellesley, India was a threat in the World War with France and he was a statesman who feared the conquests of Napoleon. The French Wars reopened trouble in India and in 1798 the French expedition to Egypt sped up the war in India. Almost 4,000 British troops were sent to India in late 1798 and the Persian Gulf was policed by the Royal Navy.

To prevent Tipu Sultan from allying with the French, Wellesley planned the destruction of Mysore. The main objective of Wellesley was to expand British rule in India and to extend the trade relationship of the East India Company. Wellesley reversed the policy of non-intervention and adopted the policy of "Subsidiary Alliance". By this policy, the Indian powers were forced to come under British protection by suspending non - British European officers. It also enabled to maintain a contingent of British troops within their states and surrendering foreign affairs to the British. The internal freedom of the states was guaranteed and the company also promised to protect them against foreign attacks.

The Nizam of Hyderabad accepted the "Subsidiary Alliance" and thus was peacefully turned into a subordinate ally of the British. The beginning of the Fourth Mysore War was the cause of the refusal of the alliance of Tipu Sultan of Mysore. In spite of brave efforts, Tipu was vanquished and a large portion of his dominions was annexed to the British territory. Moreover, Wellesley also protected a child of the old royal family who was dispossessed by Hydar Ali under the usual condition of the "Subsidiary Alliance".

Lord Wellesley in a certain period realized that the British could not be dominant in India with the Marathas outside the subsidiary fold. Even the "Subsidiary Alliance" was accepted by the Peshwa Baji Rao II by the treaty of Bassein. Though Baji Rao II accepted the treaty, the other Maratha leaders refused to accept it and this caused the Second Maratha War which Wellesley fought against them. After this war, Wellesley seized large portions of the territories of the Bhonsle, the Sindia and in the end the Holkar, and established British domination throughout the country. Moreover he also annexed Surat, Tanjore and Karnataka including some portion of the territories of the Nawab of Oudh.

Wellesley was an important figure who has contributed a lot in extending the British power in India. To ensure this, he took some necessary steps that showed his complete sensory mind. He concluded alliances with the weaker native rulers. The company made itself responsible for the defense of the state and gained control of the province`s trade. He also conquered the whole of the Carnatic on the east coast and large areas around Mumbai on the west coast. Lord Wellesley was criticized for his aggressive policy in India, especially for his policy in Oudh. He was succeeded by Lord Minto.

In 1799, Lord Wellesley brought the "Censorship of Press Act" to stop the French from publishing anything which could harm British in any way. This act brought all the newspapers under the Government scrutiny before their publication. This act was later extended in 1807 and covered all kinds of Press Publications, newspapers, magazines, books and Pamphlets. The rules were relaxed when Lord Hastings came into power.

Contributions of Lord Wellesley
At the time of his returning home, Wellesley left the British absolutely supreme in India. His reigning period proved to be a good administrator and his contribution in setting up the Fort William College to train the civil servants would be reckoned as one of his constructive works. Later the college became well known for the works done in Indian languages especially in Urdu, Sanskrit and Persian and he was the one who made Sunday the official weekly holiday.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India


History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
Mughal Architecture during Babur
Mughal Architecture during Babur is of adequate significance in Mughal history, as the emperor introduced Mughal architecture in India, during 16th century.
Princely State of Patdi
Princely State of Patdi or Patri was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency.
Architecture during Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty
Architectures during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasty were mainly the tombs and monuments for the dead rulers. It were carefully designed and meticulously constructed.
Brahmanical Sources of Ancient History
Brahmanical Sources of ancient history are contained in the Vedas and they constitute one of the most important literary sources of information about ancient India.
Female Education In British India
The over brimming enthusiasm among zealous Hindu reformers welcomed female education in British India.
Revenue System of Mauryan Empire
Revenue system of Mauryan Empire can be divided into eight categories. The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected.
Mughal Architecture During Jahangir
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s period was relative dull in comparison to that of Akbar dynasty.
Princely State of Satlasna
Princely State of Satlasna was amongst the former native states of India that was appointed as one of the Indian princely states during the early 19th century.
Coins of Chola Empire
Coins of Chola Empire were issued in gold, silver and copper and carried the Chola emblem.
Social Life during the Pala Period
Religious toleration and simple living were the characteristics of social life during the Pala period.
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty was reintroduced in the South India after a brief break of coinage less period of nearly three century. Chalukyas issued coins only in gold and they exhibit a brilliant artistic skill of the engraver.
Costumes of Indus Valley Civilisation
Costumes of Indus valley Civilization have been considered as the basis for Indian clothes. Sophisticated ornaments and make up were used during that age.
Development of Science under Gupta Empire
Development of Science under Gupta Empire was progressive and it had attained considerable perfection. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, physics and metallurgy were the most prominent of the sciences at that time.
Culture under Delhi Sultanate
Culture under Delhi Sultanate had enduring aspects to it. It included the society, the religious condition, literature and art and architecture of that period.
Princely State of Hapa
Princely State of Hapa was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency.
Economy Under Chola Dynasty
Economy under Chola dynasty was strong and well developed. The economic life of the people of the Chola Kingdom was well balanced with their social life.
Coins of Khilji Dynasty
Coins of Khilji Dynasty had an influential feature that was followed by the other dynasties.
Religion During Mauryan Dynasty
Religion during Mauryan dynasty became a considerable episode in Indian history with an esteemed lineage of rulers.