EAST INDIA COMPANY, in its origi nal form "The Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading to the East Indies"; so the company is de scribed in its charter, dated Dec. 31, 1600. Afterward, on July 22, 1702, "The United Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies." In 1749 the com pany plunged into the native wars of the Carnatic, and commenced a career of con quest which placed nearly the whole of India either directly or indirectly under the British rule. The victory of Clive, at Plassy (June 23, 1757), over Suraj-u Dowla laid the foundations of the Anglo-Indian empire.
The rise of such power excited in the home government a desire to reduce it under their control; and when as early as 1769 the company wished the loan of two ships of the line and some frigates, the ministry in granting their request in timated their intention of vesting in the admiral power to treat independently on all maritime affairs. In 1773 the home government claimed that the territorial acquisitions of the company should be transferred after six years' grace to the crown, and change made in the constitu tion of the company, a Supreme Court of Judicature being also appointed in India.
Pitt's act (1784) established a board of control over the directors, which com pletely destroyed the independence of the latter body. The company's charter was renewed with a few changes in 1793; subsequently at intervals of 20 years. In 1813 they lost the monopoly of the In dian trade, retaining that of China. This last was taken away in 1833. The next renewal, that of 1853, was the last that took place. The Indian mutinies of 1857 and 1858, having discredited the com pany's administration, its political gov ernment was brought to an end on Aug. 13, 1858.
On Nov. 1, 1858, a proclamation made at Calcutta announced that Queen Vic toria herself assumed the government of India. Finally the East India Stock Re demption Act, passed on May 13, 1873, but not operative till June 1, 1874, at the latter date, dissolved the company itself.