Commander-in-Chief, India

Commander-in-Chief, India
Longest serving GEN The Earl of Moira October 1813 – January 1823
British Indian Army
Status	Senior-most officer of the British Indian Army
Reports to	Governor-General of India
Seat	GHQ India
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	January 1748
First holder	Major general Stringer Lawrence
Final holder	FM Sir Claude Auchinleck
Abolished	15 August 1947
Succession	Commanders-in-Chief of the Indian Army and Pakistan Army
Unofficial names	Commander-in-Chief in or of India

During the period of the Company rule in India and the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India (often "Commander-in-Chief in or of India") was the supreme commander of the British Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at GHQ India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India. Following the Partition of India in 1947 and the creation of the independent dominions of India and Pakistan, the post was abolished. It was briefly replaced by the position of Supreme Commander of India and Pakistan before the role was abolished in November 1948. Subsequently, the role of Commander-in-Chief was merged into the offices of the Commanders-in-Chief of the independent Indian Army and Pakistan Army, respectively, before becoming part of the office of the President of India from 1950 and of the President of Pakistan from 1956.

Prior to independence, the official residence was the Flagstaff House, which later became the residence of the first Prime Minister of India; as Teen Murti Bhavan (Teen Murti House), it is now a museum.

This is a list of people who were the military Commander-in-Chief, India until 1947. The rank and title are the final ones for the officer's career and not necessarily applicable to his tenure as Commander-in-Chief, India.

List of Commanders-in-Chief

Commanders-in-Chief have been:

† denotes people who died in office.

Commanders-in-Chief of India, 1748–1801

No.	Portrait	Commander-in-Chief	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Notes
1		Lawrence, StringerMajor general Stringer Lawrence (1697–1775)	January 1748	1754	5–6 years	Foiled plans of Joseph François Dupleix to conquer southern India for France. Reorganized the Madras Army.
2		Adlercron, JohnLieutenant general John Adlercron (1691–1766)	January 1748	1754	0 years
3		Clive, RobertMajor general Robert Clive (1725–1774)	December 1756	February 1760	3 years, 62 days	Established the military supremacy of the East India Company in southern India and Bengal.
4		Caillaud, JohnBrigadier general John Caillaud (1726–1812)	February 1760	December 1760	304 days	Active in southern India against the French until 1759 when he was dispatched to Bengal.
5		Carnac, JohnBrigadier general John Carnac (1716–1800)	December 1760	April 1761	121 days	Defeated the Mughal emperor near Bihar.
6		Coote, EyreLieutenant general Sir Eyre Coote (1726–1783)	April 1761	1763	1–2 years	Captained the 39th Regiment, the first British regiment sent to India.
7		Adams, ThomasMajor Thomas Adams (1730–1764)	1763	January 1764	0–1 years	Officiating.
(5)		Carnac, JohnBrigadier general John Carnac (1716–1800)	January 1764	July 1764	182 days	2nd time appointment as Commander-in-Chief. Promoted to brigadier general during this time.
8		Munro, HectorGeneral Sir Hector Munro (1726–1805)	July 1764	January 1765	184 days	Suppressed sepoy mutiny at Patna. Won the victories of Buxar against Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh, and Mir Qasim, which ranks amongst the most decisive battles ever fought in India.
(5)		Carnac, JohnBrigadier general John Carnac (1716–1800)	January 1765	May 1765	120 days	3rd appointment as Commander-in-Chief. Defeated the Maratha Empire in the Doab.
(3)		Clive, RobertMajor general Robert Clive (1725–1774)	May 1765	January 1767	1 year, 245 days	2nd time appointment as Commander-in-Chief.
9		Smith, RichardBrigadier general Richard Smith (1734–1803)	January 1767	March 1770	3 years, 59 days	Exerted considerable influence in the East India Company, and was a prominent creditor of the Nawab of Arcot.
10		Barker, RobertBrigadier general Sir Robert Barker (1732–1789)	March 1770	December 1773	3 years, 275 days	Signed a treaty with the Rohillas against the Maratha Empire.
11		Chapman, CharlesColonel Charles Chapman (1716–1795)	December 1773	January 1774	31 days	Civil servant of the East India Company who studied tribal ethnicities and cultures, and reported his findings to the Bengal Government.
12		Champion, AlexanderBrigadier general Alexander Champion	January 1774	November 1774	304 days	–
13		Clavering, JohnLieutenant general John Clavering (1722–1777)	November 1774	30 August 1777 †	2 years, 302 days	–
14		Stibbert, GilesLieutenant general Giles Stibbert (1734–1809)	October 1777	March 1779	1 year, 151 days	Officiating.
(6)		Coote, EyreLieutenant general Sir Eyre Coote (1726–1783)	March 1779	April 1783	4 years, 31 days	Reappointment. Won the Battle of Porto Novo against odds of five to one, regarded as one of the greatest feats by the British in India.
(14)		Stibbert, GilesLieutenant general Giles Stibbert (1734–1809)	April 1783	July 1785	2 years, 91 days	Reappointment.
15		Slopper, RobertGeneral Sir Robert Sloper (1729–1802)	July 1785	September 1786	1 year, 62 days	–
16		Cornwallis, CharlesGeneral The Earl Cornwallis (1738–1805)	September 1786	October 1793	1 year, 62 days	Promulgated the Permanent Settlement of Bengal. Served twice as Governor-General of India.
17		Abercromby, RobertGeneral Sir Robert Abercromby (1740–1827)	October 1793	January 1797	3 years, 92 days	Officiating.
18		Morgan, CharlesMajor general Charles Morgan (1741–1818)	January 1797	May 1798	1 year, 120 days	Officiating.
19		Clarke, AluredField Marshal Sir Alured Clarke (1744–1832)	May 1798	February 1801	2 years, 276 days	–

Commanders-in-Chief of India, 1801–1857

No.	Portrait	Commander-in-Chief	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Notes
1		Craig, JamesGeneral Sir James Craig (1748–1812)	February 1801	March 1801	28 days	Officiating.
2		Lake, GeraldGeneral Gerard Lake (1744–1808)	March 1801	July 1805	4 years, 122 days	Improved the Indian Army by making all arms, infantry, cavalry and artillery, more mobile and more manageable.
3		Cornwallis, CharlesGeneral The Earl Cornwallis (1738–1805)	July 1805	October 1805	92 days	Reappointment. With Sir Arthur Wellesley, he supervised the Second Anglo-Maratha War against the Sindhia and the Holkar.
(2)		Lake, GeraldGeneral The Lord Lake (1744–1808)	October 1805	1806	0–1 years	Reappointment following the death of Cornwallis' successor John Graves Simcoe. Upon Cornwallis' death, Lake pursued the Holkar to the Punjab. The Holkar capitulated at Amritsar in December 1805.
4		Simcoe, JohnGeneral John Simcoe (1752–1806)	1806	26 October 1806 †	0 years	Appointed to post in England in late 1805, but died before departing for India and replaced by Lake.
(2)		Lake, GeraldGeneral The Lord Lake (1744–1808)	1806	October 1807	0–1 years	Reappointment following death of John Simcoe, who died after accepting the appointment in England.
5		Hewett, GeorgeGeneral Sir George Hewett (1750–1840)	October 1807	December 1807	61 days	Transformed Meerut into a British stronghold that would be used as a launching point for future military campaigns into northern India.
6		Champagné, ForbesLieutenant general Forbes Champagné (1754–1816)	December 1807	January 1811	3 years, 31 days	Officiating.
7	Sir George Nugent	Nugent, GeorgeField Marshal Sir George Nugent (1757–1849)	January 1811	October 1813	2 years, 273 days	–
8		Hastings, FrancisGeneral The Earl of Moira (1754–1826)	October 1813	January 1823	9 years, 92 days	1st Marquess of Hastings from 1816; Oversaw British forces in the Gurkha War; conquered the Marathas; repaired the Mogul canals in Delhi; instituted educational reforms.
9		Paget, EdwardGeneral Sir Edward Paget (1775–1849)	January 1823	October 1825	2 years, 273 days	–
10		Cotton, StapletonField Marshal The Lord Combermere (1773–1865)	October 1825	January 1830	4 years, 92 days	1st Viscount Combermere from 1827.
11		Ramsay, GeorgeGeneral The Earl of Dalhousie (1770–1838)	January 1830	January 1832	2 years, 0 days	Began the British suppression of the Thuggee murder-cults.
12		Barnes, EdwardLieutenant general Sir Edward Barnes (1776–1838)	January 1832	October 1833	1 year, 273 days	Constructed the military road between Colombo and Kandy, made the first census of the population, and introduced coffee cultivation.
13		Bentinck, WilliamGeneral Lord William Bentinck (1774–1839)	October 1833	March 1835	1 year, 151 days	Suppressed the Hindu custom of sati. Reappointed in April 1834.
14		Watson, JamesGeneral Sir James Watson (1772–1862)	March 1835	September 1835	184 days	Established the famous police organisation known as the "Thuggee and Dacoity Department" within the Government of India.
15		Fane, HenryGeneral Sir Henry Fane (1778–1840)	September 1835	December 1839	4 years, 91 days	–
16		Nicholls, JasperGeneral Sir Jasper Nicolls (1778–1849)	December 1839	August 1843	3 years, 243 days	Officiating.
17		Gough, HughField Marshal Hugh Gough (1779–1869)	August 1843	May 1849	5 years, 273 days	1st Baron Gough from 1846; Defeated the Mahrattas at Maharajpur. Conducted operations against the Sikhs and won the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah and Sobraon. Soon after, the Sikhs surrendered at Lahore.
18		Napier, CharlesGeneral Sir Charles James Napier (1782–1853)	May 1849	December 1851	2 years, 214 days	Conquered Sindh and made it part of Bombay Presidency.
19		Gomm, WilliamField Marshal Sir William Gomm (1784–1875)	December 1851	January 1856	4 years, 31 days	–
20		Anson, GeorgeMajor general George Anson (1797–1857)	January 1856	27 May 1857 †	1 year, 146 days	Outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Died of cholera during his march against the Indian Rebellion at Delhi.
21		Grant, PatrickLieutenant general Sir Patrick Grant (1804–1895)	June 1857	August 1857	87 days	Directed operations against the Indian Rebellion, sending forces under Havelock and Outram for the relief of Cawnpore and Lucknow, until the arrival of Sir Colin Campbell from England.
22		Campbell, ColinGeneral Sir Colin Campbell (1792–1863)	August 1857	4 June 1861	3 years, 307 days	1st Baron Clyde from 1858; Abandoned then recaptured Lucknow. Supervised military operations in Oudh until the Indian Rebellion had been subdued.

Commanders-in-Chief of India, 1861–1947

No.	Portrait	Commander-in-Chief	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Notes
1		Rose, HughLieutenant general Sir Hugh Rose (1801–1885)	4 June 1861	23 March 1865	3 years, 292 days	Improved discipline and enabled the amalgamation of the East India Company's army into the Queen's army to be carried out.
2		Mansfield, WilliamGeneral Sir William Mansfield (1819–1876)	23 March 1865	9 April 1870	5 years, 17 days	Prior to his appointment, Mansfield served in the Sutlej campaign, commanded the 53rd Regiment in the Punjab, and was part of Peshawar operations in the northwest frontier.
3		Napier, RobertGeneral The Lord Napier of Magdala (1810–1890)	9 April 1870	10 April 1876	6 years, 1 day	He did much to benefit the army and to encourage good shooting.
4		Haines, FrederickGeneral Sir Frederick Haines (1819–1909)	10 April 1876	8 April 1881	4 years, 363 days	–
5		Stewart, DonaldGeneral Sir Donald Stewart (1824–1900)	8 April 1881	28 November 1885	4 years, 234 days	–
6		Roberts, FrederickLieutenant general Sir Frederick Roberts (1832–1914)	28 November 1885	8 April 1893	7 years, 131 days	1st Baron Roberts of Kandahar
7		White, GeorgeGeneral Sir George White (1835–1912)	8 April 1893	20 March 1898	4 years, 346 days	–
8		Nairne, CharlesGeneral Sir Charles Nairne (1836–1899)	20 March 1898	4 November 1898	229 days	Officiating.
9		Lockhart, WilliamGeneral Sir William Lockhart (1841–1900)	4 November 1898	18 March 1900 †	1 year, 134 days	–
10	Sir Arthur Palmer	Palmer, ArthurGeneral Sir Arthur Palmer (1840–1904)	19 March 1900	28 November 1902	2 years, 254 days	–
11		Kitchener, HerbertGeneral The Viscount Kitchener (1850–1916)	28 November 1902	10 September 1909	6 years, 286 days	Reconstructed the disorganised Indian Army, but quarreled with the Viceroy Lord Curzon, who resigned.
12	Sir O'Moore Creagh	Creagh, O'MooreGeneral Sir O'Moore Creagh (1848–1923)	10 September 1909	8 March 1914	4 years, 179 days	Douglas Haig, then a lieutenant general, served as Chief of the General Staff (India) in 1909–12.
13		Duff, BeauchampGeneral Sir Beauchamp Duff (1855–1918)	8 March 1914	1 October 1916	2 years, 207 days	–
14		Monro, CharlesGeneral Sir Charles Monro (1860–1929)	1 October 1916	21 November 1920	4 years, 51 days	–
15	The Lord Rawlinson	Rawlinson, HenryGeneral The Lord Rawlinson (1864–1925)	21 November 1920	28 March 1925 †	4 years, 127 days	Former GOC, British Fourth Army on the Western Front.
16		Jacob, ClaudGeneral Sir Claud Jacob (1863–1948)	3 April 1925	6 August 1925	125 days	–
17		Birdwood, WilliamField Marshal The Lord Birdwood (1865–1951)	6 August 1925	30 November 1930	5 years, 116 days	Distinguished commander of ANZAC troops on Gallipoli and the Western Front.
18		Chetwode, PhilipField Marshal The Lord Chetwode (1869–1950)	30 November 1930	30 November 1935	5 years, 0 days	The Indian Military Academy was established during his tenure.
19		Cassels, RobertGeneral Sir Robert Cassels (1876–1959)	30 November 1935	27 January 1941	5 years, 58 days	–
20		Auchinleck, ClaudeGeneral Sir Claude Auchinleck (1884–1981)	27 January 1941	5 July 1941	159 days	Left to take command of the Middle East Command (swapped jobs with Wavell).
21		Wavell, ArchibaldGeneral Sir Archibald Wavell (1883–1950)	5 July 1941	5 January 1942	184 days	Left to take command of the short lived ABDACOM; later became Viceroy.
22		Hartley, AlanGeneral Sir Alan Hartley (1882–1954)	5 January 1942	7 March 1942	61 days	–
(21)		Wavell, ArchibaldField Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell (1883–1950)	7 March 1942	20 June 1943	1 year, 105 days	Reappointment. Sir Alan Hartley appointed Deputy C-in-C, India.
(20)		Auchinleck, ClaudeField Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck (1884–1981)	20 June 1943	15 August 1947	4 years, 56 days	Served as the last C-in-C, India. Reappointed 15 August 1947, and became Supreme Commander of India and Pakistan. Oversaw division of the Armed forces between the two new countries. Served in this capacity until November 1948, when the role of Supreme Commander was abolished.

See also

• Secretary of State for India
• Governor-General of India
• Chief of the General Staff
• Chief of the Army Staff
• Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army

References

• Chronological List of Commanders-in-Chief, India to 1947