William Finch

William Finch was an English merchant in the service of the East India Company.

In 1607 Finch was sent in India under captains Hawking and Keeling as an agent of an expedition in charge to treat with the Great Moghul. The following year they landed at Surat, where they were violently opposed by the Portuguese who seized two of the English ships and convinced the natives to not have dealings with the company’s representatives.

Since Finch in meantime fell ill, Hawkins was forced to proceed to Agra alone where he obtained favorable notice from the Emperor Jahangir. Finch joined him when he recovered in 1610. They remained at the Moghul’s court for a year and half after what Hawkins returned to England, while Finch remained in India interested for making further explorations. He visited Byana and Lahore, and other places leaving careful observations on the commerce and natural resources of the visited districts. In 1612 the Mogul Emperor confirmed and extended the privileges he had promised to Finch and Hawkins, and the East India Company was able in that year to set up their first little factory at Surat.

Finch died the following year from drinking poisoned water at Babylon, on his way to Aleppo.