The Indian Administration of Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)

Abstract

The Governor-Generalship of India was given to Lord Cornwallis probably because of his connections with influential persons in English politics and administration. William Pitt, the Prime Minister of England, was his personal friend and so was Henry Dundas, the President of the Board of Control of the East India Company.1 According to the Regulating Act of 1773, the Governor-General of India could not overrule the wishes of his Council if a majority of members voted against his decisions. In order to remove this curb on the Governor-General’s authority, Pitt was able to move the Act of 1786 through the House of Commons giving the Governor-General the right to overrule the decisions of his Council. As a result, Cornwallis was given far greater authority than any other Governor-General who preceded him.2 The reason for this was that the ministry of Pitt’s predecessor, Lord North, had been overthrown by the success of the American war of independence. Lord North’s successor, Lord Rockingham, quickly made peace with the Americans and recognized their independence at Paris in 1783. Pitt was able to rouse support against the administration and himself take office as Prime Minister in 1784.