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Studies in Modern History
The East India Company: A History
This is the first short history of the East India Company - the trading company that became an imperial power - to be designed for student and academic use. It covers the Company's entire history from its foundation through to its demise after the Indian Mutiny in 1857, paying particular attention to the Company's important but often neglected early years. An important contribution to both Anglo-Indian and imperial historiography, it also reflects the very lively state of scholarship in both fields today.
The East India Company received its charter from parliament in 1600 for the monopoly of trade in the eastern hemisphere. Unable to compete with the Dutch in the East Indies themselves, the Company soon came to concentrate its energies on trade with India. Its growing regional influence - mercantile, political and military - led to clashes with the French, who had expansionist ambitions of their own. The campaigns of 1745-61, culminating in Clive's spectacular victories, made the Company the dominant power in India. It remained in essential control of the subcontinent until the upheaval of the Mutiny, in the aftermath of which the Crown assumed direct government of India in 1858.
The crucial role that the East India Company played in the development of British overseas expansion is fully surveyed here by Philip Lawson; but he breaks new ground in also analysing the impact that the Company's developing role had on Britain itself. He throws new light on the global imperatives affecting policy decisions in London, as well as the diplomatic complexities under which the Company operated in India. He also shows that the dynamic by which the Company acquired its imperial role was not always in the interests of the state, the Company, India or the East the progress, profitability and even the viability of the Company were frequently compromised by destructive internal forces, like political corruption and militarism, long before its formal demise.
Philip Lawson argues that the East India Company's history can no longer be seen as somehow detached from the mainstream history of Britain itself, which was open to, and influenced by, imperial as well as domestic considerations throughout these years. Contemporaries did not view the Company's world at home and abroad as separate indeed, the Company's history is inextricably bound up with Britain's own rise from a backward European state to a global imperial power. The story of the Company can thus be understood only within the context of the broader themes in Britain's past - and that is how Philip Lawson presents it in this vigorous and impressive study.
The East India Company received its charter from parliament in 1600 for the monopoly of trade in the eastern hemisphere. Unable to compete with the Dutch in the East Indies themselves, the Company soon came to concentrate its energies on trade with India. Its growing regional influence - mercantile, political and military - led to clashes with the French, who had expansionist ambitions of their own. The campaigns of 1745-61, culminating in Clive's spectacular victories, made the Company the dominant power in India. It remained in essential control of the subcontinent until the upheaval of the Mutiny, in the aftermath of which the Crown assumed direct government of India in 1858.
The crucial role that the East India Company played in the development of British overseas expansion is fully surveyed here by Philip Lawson; but he breaks new ground in also analysing the impact that the Company's developing role had on Britain itself. He throws new light on the global imperatives affecting policy decisions in London, as well as the diplomatic complexities under which the Company operated in India. He also shows that the dynamic by which the Company acquired its imperial role was not always in the interests of the state, the Company, India or the East the progress, profitability and even the viability of the Company were frequently compromised by destructive internal forces, like political corruption and militarism, long before its formal demise.
Philip Lawson argues that the East India Company's history can no longer be seen as somehow detached from the mainstream history of Britain itself, which was open to, and influenced by, imperial as well as domestic considerations throughout these years. Contemporaries did not view the Company's world at home and abroad as separate indeed, the Company's history is inextricably bound up with Britain's own rise from a backward European state to a global imperial power. The story of the Company can thus be understood only within the context of the broader themes in Britain's past - and that is how Philip Lawson presents it in this vigorous and impressive study.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionIndia
188 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 11, 2022
Looking for a brief but promising overview of this most infamous of trading companies in the sub continent of India, Philip Lawson tells the story and events from a strictly London based point of view, which was not what I was looking for.
Philip Lawson took it upon himself to bring the many existing theories, assumptions and depictions of the East india company that existed since its foundation in the 16century. This involves the link with the mythical queen Elisabeth I, the role of the Stuarts, the impact of Robert Clive and the battle of Plassey, shifting trade and bullion cargo (spices, textiles, tea, opium) and the impact of corruption. However for all the good that comes from bundling all existing theories to further new research; Philip Lawson makes it clear that for him the most interesting way forward is in the impact of the company on England. This England focus does not mean that India is absent (that would be near absurd) but it does mean that every event in India is looked at from the point of view of the London headquarters and offices. The actions of Robert Clive, the trading on the side by company men in Bengal, the difficulties in sending orders from London to Calcutta and Bombay. This is all brought from the London point of view and contrasted whit what they wanted and thought the company should be.
This London point of view means that a lot of the book and events are present as aberrations, as muddling of the designs set out by London, their theory is what it should be and Philip Lawson makes a case that in part the local company men in India deciding on the spot what was best, let to the companies downfall. I for one am not interested in contrasting the London wishes and the local company men's decisions and as if only the former represented the company's interest. To me the choices of these local company men are as important and insightful to determine what the east india company was about as the wishes of the those in London. That these London men were important is beyond pale, especially given their links with the house of commons and the royal court but to take their point of view as the "ideal" east India company which these local company men messed up, is a too limited scope.
Having said that, it is not whole on to them that Lawson puts the blame of the company downfall. The london merchants lost the public and political battle and the loss of monopolies hurt the company hard as did the change in attitude towards the Indian populations, a ditching of the orientalist rule and introducing an anglicizing rule that alienated both collaborating rulers, sepoy soldiers and common man leading to the great rebellion of 1857. Yet again I am wishing for more Indian experiences. There is mention of disruptions of Indian societies while some profited from both the official as the 'on the side' trade by the company men. I would have preferred more detail on this rather then the minutia of London debates or have them both. As I would have liked a bit more on the growth, recruitment and impact of the sepoy soldier, how this rapid expansion of the company soldiers inflicted itself beyond the budget balances in company headquarters.
All and all I don't reject this approach but I do think it is too limited in scope and presumes too much that the idealized form of the company as it existed in the debates in London should be taken as the standard to uphold the reality on the ground.
Philip Lawson took it upon himself to bring the many existing theories, assumptions and depictions of the East india company that existed since its foundation in the 16century. This involves the link with the mythical queen Elisabeth I, the role of the Stuarts, the impact of Robert Clive and the battle of Plassey, shifting trade and bullion cargo (spices, textiles, tea, opium) and the impact of corruption. However for all the good that comes from bundling all existing theories to further new research; Philip Lawson makes it clear that for him the most interesting way forward is in the impact of the company on England. This England focus does not mean that India is absent (that would be near absurd) but it does mean that every event in India is looked at from the point of view of the London headquarters and offices. The actions of Robert Clive, the trading on the side by company men in Bengal, the difficulties in sending orders from London to Calcutta and Bombay. This is all brought from the London point of view and contrasted whit what they wanted and thought the company should be.
This London point of view means that a lot of the book and events are present as aberrations, as muddling of the designs set out by London, their theory is what it should be and Philip Lawson makes a case that in part the local company men in India deciding on the spot what was best, let to the companies downfall. I for one am not interested in contrasting the London wishes and the local company men's decisions and as if only the former represented the company's interest. To me the choices of these local company men are as important and insightful to determine what the east india company was about as the wishes of the those in London. That these London men were important is beyond pale, especially given their links with the house of commons and the royal court but to take their point of view as the "ideal" east India company which these local company men messed up, is a too limited scope.
Having said that, it is not whole on to them that Lawson puts the blame of the company downfall. The london merchants lost the public and political battle and the loss of monopolies hurt the company hard as did the change in attitude towards the Indian populations, a ditching of the orientalist rule and introducing an anglicizing rule that alienated both collaborating rulers, sepoy soldiers and common man leading to the great rebellion of 1857. Yet again I am wishing for more Indian experiences. There is mention of disruptions of Indian societies while some profited from both the official as the 'on the side' trade by the company men. I would have preferred more detail on this rather then the minutia of London debates or have them both. As I would have liked a bit more on the growth, recruitment and impact of the sepoy soldier, how this rapid expansion of the company soldiers inflicted itself beyond the budget balances in company headquarters.
All and all I don't reject this approach but I do think it is too limited in scope and presumes too much that the idealized form of the company as it existed in the debates in London should be taken as the standard to uphold the reality on the ground.
October 23, 2015
A subject that has interested me, and it was a real eye opener. It tells how the Company morphed from a purely trading organisation, into a huge bureaucracy running large areas of India. The eye opener was that this was the last thing they really wanted to do. I took a while to read it as I sort of cheated on a book challenge, and used it as my book that I started, but hadn't finished. Does not go in to massive detail, but it's an excellent starting point for looking at this elongated period of history spanning nearly three centuries.
August 3, 2011
I had the pleasure of studying British history with one of Philip Lawson's former graduate students. Unfortunately, Professor Lawson passed away shortly before I began my own MA. I've also read much of his work that he did on tea and the tea trade, of which the EIC played a major role. First rate work by a first rate researcher, writer and educator.
July 10, 2016
Well didn't really learn anything new except that in the early 18th century it was recommended that people drink fifty cups of tea a day!
December 15, 2022
How many people know the complex history of the East India Company in any great detail? Not many in my experience...but many have an opinion about its misdeeds & misappropriations. But it's not as simple as many would have you believe...as this brief survey by Philip Lawson clearly shows...even from nearly 30 years ago...before the deluge of anti-imperialism. How did a small,foggy island nation of a few million inhabitants, off the north coast of France, manage so successfully to gain a foothold in a sub-continent of 350,000,000+, far from London? Not by military invasion! Read & learn.
July 20, 2024
A fantastic introduction, especially given my own interest in the EIC’s impacts on and interactions with the English state. Readers more interested in life on the ground might get more out of Phil Stern’s “The company-State” or William Dalrymple’s “The Anarchy,” but both of those emphasize the EIC’s separation from the English state and politics that I am skeptical of. This is, however, a brief survey, and I felt that there were some glaring omissions (EIC v. Sandys isn’t mentioned) and citations are sparse, although there is a useful reading list at the end.
November 28, 2017
This book has been a companion through a long period of reading about the EIC.
A previous reviewer said: "Clear, concise, and critical. Gave a brief overview of the field using primary and secondary sources, critically analysed these sources and challenged early interpretations, and stayed on point. Lacking in depth by nature, but a good jumping off point for anyone interested in the British East India Company.". I entirely agree!
A previous reviewer said: "Clear, concise, and critical. Gave a brief overview of the field using primary and secondary sources, critically analysed these sources and challenged early interpretations, and stayed on point. Lacking in depth by nature, but a good jumping off point for anyone interested in the British East India Company.". I entirely agree!
November 10, 2010
"The company that evolved from the original charter succeeded because it possessed a sophisticated administrative structure that paid attention to details, and a mandate that everyone understood as being focused on trade and profit. The governor and committee system permitted speedy executive decisions to be taken; and absolute necessity in a trading endeavour where resources were tied so closely to fleets returning from voyages of over two years' duration." (contra joint stock as being key to success, 21)
"Like all East India Company imports, tea and textiles were stored after 1660 in ever-expanding bonded warehouses, where the goods were later auctioned to wholesalers under strict regulations laid down in the 'Laws and Standing Orders.' The procedure became known to contemporaries as 'by inch sale,' that is each sale would last the time it took a one-inch candle to burn out." (61)
"The riches of Asia have been poured in upon us, and have brought with them not only Asiatic Luxury, but, I fear, Asiatic principles of government. Without connections, without any natural interest in the soil, the importers of foreign gold have forced their way into Parliament by such a torrent of private corruption as no hereditary fortune could resist." (quoting Lord Chatham, 120)
"The overriding problem of the army remained, however, as the one constant irritant to both the people of India and Company government. It existed as the Company's force in name only, being ruled over by military men with no connection at all to mercantile endeavours. Since 1784, or even earlier, the army had been at odds with the Company's economic goals and this situation never changed up to 1857." (160).
"Like all East India Company imports, tea and textiles were stored after 1660 in ever-expanding bonded warehouses, where the goods were later auctioned to wholesalers under strict regulations laid down in the 'Laws and Standing Orders.' The procedure became known to contemporaries as 'by inch sale,' that is each sale would last the time it took a one-inch candle to burn out." (61)
"The riches of Asia have been poured in upon us, and have brought with them not only Asiatic Luxury, but, I fear, Asiatic principles of government. Without connections, without any natural interest in the soil, the importers of foreign gold have forced their way into Parliament by such a torrent of private corruption as no hereditary fortune could resist." (quoting Lord Chatham, 120)
"The overriding problem of the army remained, however, as the one constant irritant to both the people of India and Company government. It existed as the Company's force in name only, being ruled over by military men with no connection at all to mercantile endeavours. Since 1784, or even earlier, the army had been at odds with the Company's economic goals and this situation never changed up to 1857." (160).
June 14, 2014
Clear, concise, and critical. Gave a brief overview of the field using primary and secondary sources, critically analysed these sources and challenged early interpretations, and stayed on point. Lacking in depth by nature, but a good jumping off point for anyone interested in the British East India Company.
February 12, 2019
Nice, introductory, yet detailed book on the Company
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews