Here is a list of Governors-General of India, categorized by the British and post-independence eras:
Governors-General of British India
The position was established in 1773 with the Regulating Act, initially called “Governor-General of Bengal,” and later expanded to “Governor-General of India” in 1833.
Governors-General of Bengal (1773–1833)
- Warren Hastings (1773–1785)
- First Governor-General of Bengal.
- Introduced judicial and revenue reforms.
- John Macpherson (1785–1786, Acting)
- Lord Cornwallis (1786–1793)
- Known for the Cornwallis Code, revenue reforms, and the introduction of the Permanent Settlement.
- Sir John Shore (1793–1798)
- Focused on policy of non-intervention.
- Lord Wellesley (1798–1805)
- Established British supremacy through subsidiary alliances.
- Lord Cornwallis (1805, Second Term)
- Sir George Barlow (1805–1807, Acting)
- Lord Minto I (1807–1813)
- Concluded the Treaty of Amritsar with Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
- Lord Hastings (1813–1823)
- Consolidated British power in India.
- John Adam (1823, Acting)
- Lord Amherst (1823–1828)
- Led the First Anglo-Burmese War.
- Lord William Bentinck (1828–1833)
- Introduced social reforms like the abolition of Sati.
Governors-General of India (1833–1858)
- Lord William Bentinck (1833–1835)
- Continued as the first Governor-General of India under the Charter Act of 1833.
- Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835–1836, Acting)
- Lord Auckland (1836–1842)
- First Anglo-Afghan War occurred during his tenure.
- Lord Ellenborough (1842–1844)
- Sir Henry Hardinge (1844–1848)
- Oversaw the First Anglo-Sikh War.
- Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856)
- Known for the Doctrine of Lapse and modernizing infrastructure (railways, telegraphs).
- Lord Canning (1856–1858)
- Last Governor-General of India and first Viceroy after 1858.
Governors-General and Viceroys of British India (1858–1947)
After the Revolt of 1857, the title was changed to Viceroy and Governor-General.
- Lord Canning (1858–1862)
- Proclaimed the end of the East India Company’s rule and the beginning of Crown rule in 1858.
- Lord Elgin I (1862–1863)
- Sir John Lawrence (1864–1869)
- Lord Mayo (1869–1872)
- Assassinated in 1872.
- Lord Northbrook (1872–1876)
- Lord Lytton (1876–1880)
- Organized the Delhi Durbar in 1877.
- Lord Ripon (1880–1884)
- Known for introducing local self-government reforms.
- Lord Dufferin (1884–1888)
- Lord Lansdowne (1888–1894)
- Lord Elgin II (1894–1899)
- Lord Curzon (1899–1905)
- Partitioned Bengal in 1905.
- Lord Minto II (1905–1910)
- Passed the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909).
- Lord Hardinge II (1910–1916)
- Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921)
- Oversaw the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).
- Lord Reading (1921–1926)
- Lord Irwin (1926–1931)
- Signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931.
- Lord Willingdon (1931–1936)
- Lord Linlithgow (1936–1943)
- Longest-serving Viceroy; oversaw the Quit India Movement.
- Lord Wavell (1943–1947)
- Lord Mountbatten (1947)
- Last Viceroy and first Governor-General of independent India.
Post-Independence Governors-General of India (1947–1950)
After independence, the role was largely ceremonial until India became a Republic in 1950.
- Lord Mountbatten (1947–1948)
- First Governor-General of independent India.
- C. Rajagopalachari (1948–1950)
- The only Indian to serve as Governor-General.
On January 26, 1950, the position of Governor-General was abolished when India became a Republic, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India.