Who was the first Viceroy of India?

Charles John Canning was appointed Governor-General of India in 1856. After the Revolt of 1857, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, 1858, which ended the rule of the East India Company and transferred the government of India directly to the British Crown. Under this Act, the Governor-General was given the additional title of "Viceroy", meaning the representative of the Crown. So Lord Canning became the last Governor-General under the Company and the first Viceroy of India.

On 1 November 1858, Lord Canning read out Queen Victoria's Proclamation at a durbar held at Allahabad. The Proclamation:

Announced that India would now be governed by and in the name of the Crown.

Promised to respect the rights, dignity and honour of the Indian princes and to give up the policy of annexation, including the Doctrine of Lapse.

Promised religious tolerance and non-interference in Indian religious matters.

Promised equal treatment and admission to public services for Indians, regardless of race or religion.

Other events during Canning's time include:

• The Revolt of 1857, which he handled firmly but tried to deal with fairly, earning the nickname "Clemency Canning" for opposing indiscriminate revenge.
• The founding of the universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857.
• The Indian Penal Code (1860), drafted earlier under Macaulay.
• The Indian Councils Act, 1861, which allowed some Indians to be nominated to the legislative councils, and introduced the portfolio system.
• The Indian High Courts Act, 1861.

Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy (1947) and the first Governor-General of independent India. C. Rajagopalachari was the first and last Indian Governor-General (1948-50).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General before Canning (1848-56).
• ✗Lord William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India (1833).
• ✗Lord Elgin succeeded Canning in 1862.