List of East India Company directors

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The East India Company controlled most of the subcontinent of India. No other company in history has ever governed so many people. With the exception of China, the E. I. C. controlled a larger population by the nineteenth century than any government of any country in the world.

The following list of East India Company directors is taken from the "Alphabetical List of Directors of the East India Company from 1758 to 1858", compiled by C. H. & D. Philips and published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, October 1941. This list has been compiled from manuscript records, in particular the Court Minutes and Home Miscellaneous Series, volume 764, at the India Office, amplified and checked by information mainly taken from the "Annual Register, the Asiatic Annual."

"The figures indicate the year of election to the Court of Directors and unless the name of the month in any particular year is given, the month is assumed to be that of April. It is important to remember that throughout the period the year of office was from April to the following April. When a span of years is shown the election dates given are inclusive." "An asterisk placed after a year indicates that the director concerned was elected deputy chairman for that year, two asterisks, that he was chosen chairman, three, that he was first elected deputy and later in the same year appointed chairman. The abbreviations d., disq., respectively stand for died, disqualified.

+Directors of the British East India Company 1758–1858Director's nameDates of directorshipdied Agnew, Patrick Vansformat=dmy, 35–8, 40–2format=dmyAlexander, Henryformat=dmy–26, 28–31, 33–36, 38–41, 43–46, 48–51, 53format=dmyformat=dmy–22, 24–72, 29–32, 34–37, 39format=dmy1814–17, 19–20format=dmy1760, 63format=dmyformat=dmy–1800, 02–05, 07–09*–10**, 12–15, 17–20, 22–23*–24**–25, 27–28**–29–*30**, 32–35, 37–40, 42–45format=dmyAstell, John Harveyformat=dmy, 52–58. Jan 1784–84–85format=dmyBaillie, Johnformat=dmy, 25–28, 30–33format=dmyBannerman, John Alexander1808–11, 13–16, disq. Mar 1817. format=dmyBaring, Francis1779–82, 84–87, 89–91*–92**, 94–97, 99–1802, 04–07, 09–10format=dmyBaron, Christopher1759, 61–64, 66–67format=dmyBarrington, Fitzwilliam1759, 61–62, 65–67. format=dmyBarwell, William 1753–56, 58–59, 61–64, 66. format=dmyBayley, William ButterworthJuly 1833–35 37–39*–40**, 42–45, 47–50, 52–58format=dmyBebb, JohnNov 1804, 06–09, 11–14, 16*–17**–19, 21–24, 26–29, disq. Apr 1830. Becher, Richard1775–78, 80, disq. Mar 1781. format=dmyBensley, WilliamOct 1781–84, 86–89, 91–94, 96–99, 1801–04, 06–09format=dmyBoddam, Charles1769, 72–75, 77–80, 82–d. 84format=dmyBoehm, Edmund1784–7format=dmyBooth, Benjamin1767–70, 72–73, 75–78, 80–83format=dmyBootle, Robert1741–44, 46–49, 52–53, 55format=dmyBosanquet, Jacob (1)1759format=dmyBosanquet, Jacob (2)Aug 1782–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–97*–98**, 1800–02*–03**, 05–08, 10*–11**–12**–13, 15–18, 20–23, 25–26, disq. Mar 1827. format=dmyBosanquet, Richard1768–69, 71–72. format=dmyBoyd, John1753–56, 58, 59*, 60–61, 63–64format=dmyBrowne, John1757–60, 62–63Bryant, JeremiahFeb 1841–41, 43–45format=dmyBurges, John Smith1773, 74, 76–79, 81–84, 86–89, 91**–92*–94, 96–99, 1801–03format=dmyBurrow, Christopher1735–38, 40–43, 45–48, 50–53, 55–58, 60–61format=dmyBurrow, Robert1762–64format=dmyCampbell, Archibald M. Feb 1796–96format=dmyCampbell, RobertJul 1817, 19–22, 24–7, 29–30*–31**–32, 34–37, 39–42, 44–47, 49–52format=dmyCarnac, James RivettMar 1827–28, 30–33, 35*–36**–37**–38, disq. Dec 1838format=dmyCaulfeild, James1848–51format=dmyChambers, Charles (1)1755–57, 63–66, 68format=dmyChambers, Charles (2)1770, 73Chauncey, Richard1737–40, 42–45, 1747**–48*–49**–50*, 52**–53*–54*format=dmyCheap, ThomasAug 1777–78, 80–83, 85–88, 90 95format=dmyClarke, William StanleyMar 1815–15–16, 18–21, 23–26, 28–31, 33–34*–35**–36, 38–41, 43format=dmyClerk, RobertJul 1812, 14–15format=dmyCockburn, James1767–68, 70–71format=dmyColebrooke, George1767, 68*, 69**, 70**, 72**format=dmyCotton, JohnApr 1833–33–34, 36–39, 41–42*–43**–44, 46–49, 51–53format=dmyCotton, Joseph1795–98, 1800–03, 05–08, 10–13, 15–18, 20–23, disq. May 1823format=dmyCrabb Boulton, Henry1753–56, 58–61, 63, 64*, 65**, 67, 68**, 69, 70, 72, 73**format=dmyCreed, James1758, 61format=dmyCreswicke, Joseph1765–68format=dmyCruttenden, Edward Holden1765–68, 70–71format=dmyCuming, George1764–67, 69–72, Dec 73, 74–77, 79–82, 85–87format=dmyCurrie, Frederick1854–56, 57*, 58**format=dmyCust, Peregrine1767, 68, 69*format=dmyCutts, Charles1749–52, 58–61, 63–66. Daniell, JamesOct 1809, 11–14, 16–19, 21–24, resigned Apr 1825Darell, Lionel1780–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–98, 1800–d. 3 Octformat=dmyDavis, SamuelOct 1810–12, 14–17, 19format=dmyDempster, George1769, 72format=dmyDent, WilliamJan 1851–51–53format=dmyDethick, Thomas1772Devaynes, William1770–73, 74–75, 77*–89*–80**, 82–83*–84*–85**, 87–88*–89**–90*, 92–93**–94**–95, 97–1800, 02–05, defeated Apr 1807format=dmyDorrien, John1755–58, 60, 61, 62*, 63**format=dmyDrake, Roger1738–41, 43–46, 48–51*, 53*–54**–55**–56, 58*format=dmy Du Cane, Peter 1750–53format=dmyDu Cane, Peter1764, 66–69, 71–73format=dmyDudley, George1757–60, 62, 64, 65*, 66**, 67, 70, 71*format=dmyDupre, Josias1765, 66format=dmyEastwick, William JosephJun 1847, 49–52, 54–8*. Edmonstone, Neil BenjaminOct 1820–2, 24–7, 29–32, 34–7, 39–41format=dmyEllice, RussellFeb 1831, 32–5, 37–40, 42–5, 47–50, 52*–3**, 54–8. format=dmyElphinstone, William FullartonDec 1786–9, 91–4, 96–9, 1801–04**,06**–09,11–13*–14**, 16–19, 21–4, resigned Apr 1825format=dmyEwer, WalterDec 1790–Apr 91, 92–4, disq. Apr 1795format=dmyFarquhar, Robert TownsendMar 1826–26–28format=dmyFergusson, Robert CutlarFeb 1830–30–31, 33–5, disq. Jun 1835. Fitzhugh, ThomasAug 1785, 87–90, 92–5, 97–9format=dmyFletcher, Henry1769, 71–75, 77–80, 82***–83**, resigned Nov 1783format=dmyFonnereau, Zachary Philip1753–54format=dmyForbes, JohnApr 1830, 31–34, 36–9format=dmyFraser, SimonFeb 1791–91, 93–96, 98–1801, 03–06format=dmyFreeman, William George1769, 74–76, 78–81Galloway, ArchibaldSep 1840, 42–45, 47–48*–49**–50format=dmyGildart, Richard1759format=dmyGodfrey, Peter1734–37, 39–42, 44–47, 49–52, 54–55**–56*–57, 59**, 60
format=dmyGough, Charles1749 52, 54–57, 59–62format=dmyGrant, CharlesMay 1794–95, 97–1800, 02–04–*05**, 07*–08*–09**–10, 1215**, 17–20, 22–23format=dmyGregory, Robert1769–72, 75–78, 80–82**, resigned Aug 1782. format=dmyHadley, Henry1757–60, 62–65format=dmyHall, Richard1773, 74, 76–79, 81–94, 86, d. Dec 1786format=dmyHarrison, John1758–61, 63–66, 68–71, 73*, 74*–75**–77, 79–82format=dmyHarrison, Samuel1759, 61–62format=dmyHawkesworth, JohnApr 1773–Nov 73format=dmyHogg, James WeirSep 1839–42, 44–45*–46**–47, 49–50*–51*–52**, 54–58format=dmyHudleston, John1803–06, 08–11, 13–16, 18–21, 23–35, disq. Mar 1826. Hunter, John1781–84, 86–89, 91–94*, 96–99, 1801–02format=dmyHurlock, Joseph1768, 70–73format=dmyImpey, Michael1736 39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–54, 56 57format=dmyInglis, Hugh1784–7, 89–92, 94–96*–97**, 99*, 1800**–02, 04–07, 09–11*–12*format=dmyInglis, JohnMay 1803–04, 06–09, 11–14*, 16–19, 21–22format=dmyIrwin, JamesApr 1795, 97format=dmyJackson, John1807–10, 12–15, 17–20format=dmyJackson, William AdairJan 1803–03–04format=dmyJames, William1768–71, 73, 74–76*, 78*–79**–80–81*, 83format=dmyJenkins, RichardJun 1832–5, 37–38*–39**–40, 42–45, 47–50, 52–53format=dmyJohnstone, GeorgeJan 1784–84–85format=dmyJones, Robert1754–57, 65–68format=dmyLascelles, Peter1770, 72–75format=dmyLaw, Stephen1746 49, 51–54, 56format=dmyLe Mesurier, Paul1784–7, 89–92, 94–7, 99–1802, 04–05format=dmyLindsay, Hugh1814–17, 19–22, 24–26*–27**, 29–32, 34–37, 39–42, 44format=dmyLinwood, Nicholas1749 52, 54format=dmyLoch, John1821–24, 26–28*–9**, 31–33**–34, 36*–39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–53format=dmyLumsden, JohnJan 1817, 18format=dmyLushington, James LawJul 1827–28, 30–33, 35–37*–38**, 40–41*–42**–43, 45–47*–48**, 50 53format=dmyLushington, Stephen1782–85, 87–89*–90**, 92–95**, 97–98*–99**–1800, 02–05format=dmyLyall, George1830–33, 35–38, 40*–41**–43, 45–48, 50, disq. Jan 1851format=dmyMabbott, William1741 44, 46–49, 51–54, 56format=dmyMacnaghten, ElliotJun 1842–3, 45–48, 50–53, 54*, 55**, 56–58format=dmyMangles, Ross Donnelly1847–50, 52–3, 54, 55, 56*, 57**, 58format=dmyManship, John1755–58, 62–65, 67, 69–72, Dec 73, 74–77, 79–82, 84–87, 89–92, 94–97, 99–1802, 04–07, 09, disq. May 1809format=dmyMarjoribanks, Campbell1807–10, 12–15, 17–18*–19**20, 22–24*–25**, 27–30, 32*–33**–35, 37–40format=dmyMarjoribanks, Dudley Coutts1853format=dmyMasterman, JohnNov 1823–5, 27–30, 325, 37–40, 42–45, 47–50, 52–53. Melville, William Henry LeslieJul 1845–6, 48–51, 53–55. Metcalfe, Thomas Theophilus1789–92, 94–97,9 9–1802, 04–07, 09–12format=dmyMichie, John1770–75, 77–80, 83–86**, 88*format=dmyMillet, GeorgeJan 1806–06–07, 09–12format=dmyMills, Charles (1)Aug 1785–6, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801 ***, 03–06, 08–11, 13–14, disq. Mar 1815. format=dmyMills, Charles (2)Aug 1822–24, 26–29, 31–34, 36–39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–58format=dmyMills, William1778–81, 83–85, disq. Aug 1785. format=dmyMoffat, James1774–7, 79–82, Dec 1784–85, 87–90format=dmyMoney, William1789–92, 94–5format=dmyMoney, William TaylorDec 1818, 20–23, 25, disq. Mar 1826. Moore, James ArthurMay 1850, 52–53, d. Jul 1860. Morris, John1814–17, 19–22, 24–7, 29–32, 34–7, disq. Jan 1838. Motteux, John1769, 1784–86*–87**format=dmyMuspratt, John PettyMar 1824, 25–28, 30–33, 35–38, 40–43, 45–48, 50–53format=dmyNewnham, Nathaniel1738 41, 43–46, 48–51, 53–56, 58format=dmyOliphant, JamesJan 1844–44–46, 48–51, 53*, 54**, 55–56, disq. Apr 1857format=dmyPardoe, John1765–68format=dmyParry, EdwardApr 1797–97–98, 1800–03,0506*–07**–08**, 10–13, 15–18, 20–23, 25–27format=dmyParry, RichardAug 1815–17format=dmyParry, ThomasOct 1781, 83–86, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801, 03–06format=dmyPattison, JamesMar 1805, 06–09, 11–14, 16–17*–18**–19, 21*–22**–24, 26–27*–29, disq. Apr 1830. Pattle, Thomas1787–90, 92–94, disq. Apr 1795format=dmyPayne, John1741 44, 46–47, 49–52, 54–56*–57**format=dmyPeach, Samuel1773–74, 76–79, 81, disq. Oct 1781format=dmyPeel, Laurence1857format=dmyPhipps, Thomas1742 45, 47–50, 52–55, 57 58format=dmyPigou, Frederick1758–61, 63–66, 68–71, 73–77format=dmyPlant, Henry1745 48, 50–53, 55 58format=dmyPlowden, Richard Chicheley1803–06, 08–11, 13–16, 18–21, 23–6, 28–29format=dmyPlowden, William Henry Chicheley1841–44, 46–49, 51–53format=dmyPollock, George1854–55, 58format=dmyPrescott, Charles EltonJun 1820, 22–25, 27–30, 32format=dmyPrinsep, Henry ThobyJul 1850–1, 53–58format=dmyPurling, John1763–66, 68–69, 70*, 71**, 77–80format=dmyRaikes, GeorgeMar 1817, 18–21, 23–26, 28–31, 33–36, disq. Jul 1836. Ravenshaw, John GoldsboroughJul 1819–22, 24–27, 29–31*–32**, 34–37, 39–40format=dmyRawlinson, Henry Creswicke1856–58format=dmyRaymond, John1757–60format=dmyRaymond, Jones1734 37, 39–42, 44–47, 49–52, 54 57format=dmyReid, ThomasNov 1803, 05–08, 10–13, 15*–16**–18, 20*–21**–23format=dmyRider, William1738 41, 43–46, 48–51, 53 54format=dmyRobarts, AbrahamMar 1786–86, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801, 03–06, 08–11, 1315, disq. Oct 1815. format=dmyRoberts, John1764–66, 67–70, 71–72, 75*–76**–78, Nov 80–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–98, 1800–01*–02**–03*, 05–08format=dmyRobertson, ArchibaldJun 1841–42, 44–47format=dmyRobinson, George Abercrombie1808–11, 13–16, 18–19*–20**–1, 23–5*–6**, 28, disq. Mar 1829. Rooke, Giles1758–60, 61–64format=dmyRous, Thomas1758, 60*, 61*, 62**, 64**, 65, 66*, 67**, 70–71format=dmyRous, Thomas Bates 1773, 74, 76–79. format=dmyRumbold, Thomas 1772, 75–77, resigned Aug 1777format=dmySaunders, Thomas1765–66, 67*format=dmySavage, Henry1755–58, 60–62, 64–67, 70–77, 79–82format=dmyScott, David (of Dunninald) Dec 1788–91, 93–95*–96**, 98–1800*–01**, resigned Apr 1802format=dmyScott, David (2)1814–17, 19–20, disq. Aug 1820format=dmyScrafton, Luke1765–68Seward, Richard1759, 61–63. format=dmyShank, Henry1831–34, 36–39, 41–44, 46–49, 51–53. Shepherd, John Jun 1835–6, 38–41, 43*–44**–46, 48–49*–50**–51**, 53–58format=dmySmith, GeorgeApr 1795, 97–1800, 02–05*, 07–10, 12–15, 17–20, 22–5, 27–30, 32–3, disq. Jul 1833. format=dmySmith, Martin Tucker Dec 1838, 40–43, 45–48, 50–58format=dmySmith, John (see Burges, John Smith)Smith, Joshua 1771–72format=dmySmith, Nathaniel 1774–75, 77–80, 82*–83***–84**–85*, 87*–88**–90, 92–94format=dmySmith, Richard1759–62, 64format=dmySmith, Samuel1783–86, disq. Jul 1786. format=dmySnell, William1762–64, 67–69. format=dmySparkes, Joseph1773–74, 76–79, 81–84, 86–89format=dmyStables, John1774–76, 78–81, disq. Oct 1781. format=dmySteevens, George1758–60, 62, 63format=dmyStephenson, John1765–68format=dmyStuart, James1826–9, 31–2format=dmySulivan, Laurence1758**, 60**, 61**, 63*, 64, 69, 71, 72*, 78–80*–81**, 83–85format=dmySykes, William HenryJul 1840–42, 44–47, 49–52, 54–55*–56**–58format=dmyTatem, George1772–74, 76–79, 81–84, Jul 1786, 88–91, 93–96, 98–1801format=dmyTaylor, John BladenJan 1810, 11–14, 16–19format=dmyThelusson, George WoodfordSep 1796–7, 99–1802, 04–07format=dmyThornhill, JohnOct 1815–16, 18–21, 23–26, 28–31, 33–36, 38–40format=dmyThornton, RobertDec 1787–88, 90–93, 95–98, 1800–03, 05–08, 10–13** disq. Apr 1814. format=dmyThornton, William (1)1759, 61–64. format=dmyThornton, William (2) (see Astell, William Thornton)Toone, SwenyMar 1798–98–1800, 02–05, 07–10, 12–15, 17–20, 22–25, 27–30, disq. Feb 1831. Townson, JohnMar 1781, 81–83, 85–88, 90–93, 95–96format=dmyTravers, John1786–89, 91–94, 96–99, 1801–04, 06–09format=dmyTucker, Henry St. George1826–29, 31–33*–34**, 36–39, 41–44, 46*–47**–49, 51format=dmyTullie, Timothy1750 53, 55–58, 60–63format=dmyTurner, Whichcott1742 45, 47–50, 52 55format=dmyTwining, Richard1810–13, 15–16, disq. Jan 1817format=dmyVansittart, Henry1769format=dmyVerelst, Harry1771format=dmyVivian, John Hussey1856–58. Walpole, Hon. Thomas1753 54format=dmyWalton, Bourchier1759, 60–62, d. Jun 1779. format=dmyWard, Edward1762, d. Sep 1762. format=dmyWarden, FrancisJul 1836, 38–41, 43–46, 48–50, disq. Jul 1850. Warner, Richard1760–63. format=dmyWartalop, Charles1769, 72, 73, 74–75, 77–80, 82–84format=dmyWaters, Thomas1759–62format=dmyWebber, William1762–65format=dmyWestern, Maximilian1755 57format=dmyWheler, Edward1765–68, 70–72–73**, 74**–76. format=dmyWhiteman, John ClarmontMay 1844–7, 49–52format=dmyWier, Daniel1768–73, 74–76format=dmyWigram, WilliamMay 1809–12, 15–18, 20–22*–23**, 25–28,30–3*, 35–38, 40–43, 45–48, 50–53format=dmyWilberforce, William1753–54format=dmyWilkinson, Jacob1782–3, resigned Nov 1783format=dmyWilliams, Robert1809–12, d. Jul 1812format=dmyWilliams, StephenMar 1790, 91–94, 96–99, 1801–04format=dmyWillock, HenryJan 1838, 39–42, 44*–45**–47, 49–52, 54–58format=dmyWilloughby, John Pollard1854–8format=dmyWilly, William1746 49, 51 54format=dmyWinter, James1737 40, 42–45, 47–50, 52 54format=dmyWombwell, George1766–68, 75–77**–78**, 80, d. Nov 1780format=dmyWoodhouse, John1768–71, 73–76, 78–81, Jan 1784–84–86, 88–90, disq. Feb 1791format=dmyYoung, WilliamMar 1829–29–31, 33–36, 38–41, 43–46