The British East India Company came to India as a trading entity in the early 17th century. They landed in India at the port of Surat on August 24, 1608, after the company was formed in 1600 under a charter from Queen Elizabeth I. The first Indian factory was established in 1611 at Masulipatnam, and then others in Surat (1615), Madras (1640), Bombay (leased in 1668), and Calcutta (later in the 17th century). The company's presence in India began with trade but later expanded to political and military control, especially after the mid-18th century with key events like the Battle of Plassey in 1757, which marked the start of their major territorial influence.
