'A History of British India', published in 1817, was written by:

"The History of British India" was written by the Scottish historian, economist and philosopher James Mill and published in three volumes in 1817.

About the book:

James Mill divided Indian history into three periods: "Hindu", "Muslim" (Mohammedan) and "British". This religious division of history was later criticised by historians because it presented Indian history as a series of religious ages rather than considering social and economic changes.

He described pre-British Indian society as backward and argued that British rule was needed to "civilise" India.

Remarkably, Mill never visited India and did not know any Indian language. He wrote the book from documents and reports available in Britain.

The book became a standard text for officials of the East India Company and helped Mill get a senior job at the Company's headquarters in London (East India House) in 1819.

About James Mill (1773-1836):

• He was a close associate of the philosopher Jeremy Bentham and a leading supporter of utilitarianism.
• He was the father of the philosopher John Stuart Mill, who also worked for the East India Company.

Other historians of India:

• Vincent Arthur Smith: "The Early History of India" (1904) and "The Oxford History of India".
• Thomas Babington Macaulay: author of the "Minute on Indian Education" (1835), which promoted English education in India; he also drafted the Indian Penal Code.
• Mountstuart Elphinstone: "The History of India" (1841).
• Romesh Chunder Dutt: "The Economic History of India".
• Jadunath Sarkar: "History of Aurangzib" and "Fall of the Mughal Empire".

Why not the other options?

• ✗Vincent Smith wrote "The Early History of India" (1904).
• ✗John Stuart Mill was James Mill's son, a philosopher who wrote "On Liberty".
• ✗Thomas Babington Macaulay wrote the 1835 "Minute on Education".