Question

In which one of the following cities did the British East India Company set up its first factory?

• A. Cochin
• B. Kolkata
• C. Calicut
• D. Surat

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Surat

• The East India Company arrived first at Surat, India in 1608 in the ship Hector commanded by William Hawkins.

• The British established their first Indian factory at Surat (1612).

• Within a few years had established a permanent factory there.

• Surat was the port used by the textile manufacturers of Gujrat and was the most important center for the overseas trade of the Mughal Empire.

• A factory was eventually established at Surat in 1612 when the Portuguese fleet was defeated by the English.