Edward Littleton

Edward Littleton was the oldest son of Sir Edward Littleton, second baronet. He gained the formal education at The Queen’s college, Oxford. Since he had interests in politics, he sat as a Member of Parliament of Staffordshire from 1685 to 1689.

In 1682, Edward was expelled from the English East India Company because of corrupt dealing. However, after a while he became a founding director of the New East India Company, and was sent to Bengal to advocate for company’s interests. Before he was sent to Bengal with three other dismissed servants of the Old Company, he received a knighthood.

In Bengal Edward was in charge of seizing the Old Company’s properties for the new organization. But, in this attempt he found a strong opposition by John Beard, governor of Fort William at Calcutta.

Few years later these two companies amalgamated.