The Viceroy of India was the British Crown's representative who governed India during the British Raj from 1858 to 1947. The first Viceroy of India was Lord Canning, who served from 1858 to 1862 following the Government of India Act 1858, which transferred control from the East India Company to the British Crown
. The last Viceroy of India was Lord Louis Mountbatten, who served from March 1947 until Indian independence on August 15, 1947, and continued as the first Governor-General of independent India until June 1948
. In summary:
- First Viceroy of India: Lord Canning (1858–1862)
- Last Viceroy of India: Lord Louis Mountbatten (March 1947 – August 1947)
After independence, the title of Viceroy ceased to exist, and the role transitioned to Governor-General, with Chakravarti Rajagopalachari being the only Indian to hold that position post-independence
. Thus, the Viceroy of India was the chief British official governing India on behalf of the British monarch during the colonial period, with Lord Canning as the first and Lord Mountbatten as the last.
