Joseph Francois Dupleix, who tried to build a French empire in south India in the 18th century, was the Governor-General of:

Joseph Francois Dupleix (1697-1763) was the Governor-General of the French East India Company's possessions in India, with his headquarters at Pondicherry, from 1742 to 1754.

About Dupleix:

• He was born in France in 1697.
• He came to India in 1720, and served at Pondicherry and later as the head of the French settlement at Chandernagore in Bengal (1731-1741), which he made prosperous.
• In 1742, he became Governor-General of all French possessions in India.

His policy:

• He was the first European to realise that the companies could gain political power by interfering in the disputes of Indian rulers.
• He trained Indian soldiers (sepoys) in European methods, under French officers, and used them to support Indian rulers who would favour the French.
• In return, the French received territories, money and trading privileges.

His achievements:

• During the First Carnatic War, the French captured Madras (1746), and a small French force defeated the large army of the Nawab of the Carnatic.
• In the Second Carnatic War, Dupleix supported Chanda Sahib (for the Carnatic) and Muzaffar Jang (for Hyderabad).
• For a time, French influence was very strong at Hyderabad, where the French general Bussy was stationed.

His failure and recall:

• The English, under Robert Clive and others, opposed the French and supported rival claimants.
• Clive's capture and defence of Arcot and the English victory at Trichinopoly turned the tide against the French.
• The French government, worried about the cost of the wars and their effect on trade, recalled Dupleix in 1754.
• He died in poverty in Paris in 1763.

Significance:

Dupleix's methods (using trained Indian troops and political alliances) were later adopted successfully by the English, especially Clive.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Dupleix was not in charge of the English, Dutch or Portuguese settlements.