Sir John Child

Sir John Child was a governor of Bombay, and de facto the first governor-general of the British settlements in India.

Born in London, Child was sent to India as a youth to live with his uncle, who was the chief of the factory at Rajapur. His brother, Sir Josiah Child, was the governor of the East India Company in London, and John eventually rose to the position of deputy governor of Bombay (1679–81) and president of Surat (1682–90). Because of his management style as president of Surat, a rebellion broke out in Bombay (1683). Child was also involved in a war with Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor who seized Surat and forced him to conclude peace. According to peace terms, Child had to leave India. He died while waiting for the final decision.