William Bentinck arrives at Calcutta as Governor-General of India (1828)

Lord William Bentinck arrived in Calcutta in 1828 to assume office. Although often retrospectively called Governor-General of India, his official title at arrival was Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal. This distinction persisted until the Charter Act 1833 formally changed the title to Governor-General of India, effective April 1834.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Lord William Bentinck, a British military commander and colonial administrator, was appointed Governor-General of Bengal in 1828. Prior to this, he served in the House of Commons. His appointment marked the beginning of his tenure in that office, which would later be associated with the title 'Governor-General of India' following subsequent legislative changes.

Title and Office. At the time of Bentinck's arrival, the official title was 'Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal'. The title 'Governor-General of India' was not legally adopted until the Government of India Act 1833, which took effect in April 1834. Thus, describing Bentinck as Governor-General of India in 1828 is anachronistic.

Residence. The Governor-General of Fort William resided in Belvedere House in Calcutta until the early nineteenth century. Government House was constructed later, becoming the official residence. This context situates Bentinck's arrival within the established administrative infrastructure of the Presidency of Fort William.

People involved

Sources

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