They weren't just large
and magnificent ships, they were also armed as warships
not only for protection against pirates, which were rife in
the Malay States, but so that they could hold their own against
the similarly armed merchantmen of the Dutch, Portuguese and
French companies. The Honourable East India Company was successful
from its inception so much so that, during the reign of Charles
II, its charter was enlarged to enable the company to acquire
territory, exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction, command
armies, wage war, make treaties and issue its own money. By
this time the company was well established in India with three
presidencies in Bombay, Madras and Bengal and it wasn't long
before the entire country was subdued and the various native
rulers brought under the control of the company. In 1757 Robert
Clive won the battle of Plassey which made the company all powerful
in India and the English government looked again at the charter
and was forced to concede that it had to take some responsibility
for the territory. Consequently, the British government insisted
that all top company appointments were approved by them and
gradually political, financial and military control passed from
the company to the government in London. In 1813 trade with
India was thrown open to the public, the company losing its
monopoly although it was allowed to retain sole rights to the
trade with China but only until 1833 when that too was opened
to anybody who was prepared to compete. The loss of these valuable
monopolies spelt out the beginning of the end of the Honourable
East India Company and as other companies' ships, especially
those of P & O, began to compete for the eastern trade routes
their ships gradually disappeared from those waters. However,
the company still had the machinery of government in place in
India and as a matter of convenience the British government
left the civil administration entirely in the hands of the company.
This arrangement continued up until 1857 and the outbreak of
the Indian Mutiny at Meerut but the excesses of the mutiny and
the severe punishments imposed by the company forced the British
government to assume responsibility for the internal government
of India, replacing many of the company's officials. The Honourable
East India Company was then formally dissolved in 1858.
Here is a chronicle of the most powerful corporation in world
history, beautifully illustrated with full-colour paintings,
photographs and maps. This is the story of the Honourable East
India Company by Antony Wild, an undisputed authority on the
company and its history. Read about how the company ruled India,
raised its own army, minted its own currency but also trafficked
in opium, greed and brutal oppression. Read, through the colourful
figures of Captain James Skinner and John Nicholson, how the
company's opulent life style eventually led to its downfall.
East India Company
William Adams (d. 1620) was an English navigator who, after
serving in the Royal Navy for a short time, worked for the Company
of Barbary Merchants as a pilot and navigator. Attracted by
the Dutch trade to India, in 1598 he sailed with a squadron
of five ships for India via the Straits of Magellan at the southernmost
point of South America. The squadron suffered badly and of the
five ships only Adams in the "Charity" survived to
eventually reach Kyushu in Japan with a crew of sick and dying
men. His extensive knowledge of ships, shipbuilding and pilotage
meant that he was a valuable asset for the Japanese rulers and
they refused him permission to return to England. They did however
present him with an estate near Yokosuka and a local girl for
a wife. In 1612 an English trading station was established near
Bantam and Adams got to hear of it and made contact. A year
later the "Clove" an English ship commanded by Captain
John Saris visited Adams who was able to help Saris obtain valuable
trading concessions from the Shogun of Japan in favour of the
The Honourable East India Company. Adams went on to play a leading
role in establishing the East India Company's branch in the
Far East and eventually obtained permission to leave Japan.
He made many voyages to Siam (Thailand) and Cochin China on
be half of the company but always returned to Japan where he
died.
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