William Hedges

William Hedges was an English merchant known in history as the first governor of the East India Company in Bengal.

Born in Ireland, William started his career as a merchant in the service of the Levant Company. He spent some time in Turkey, first in the factory in Smyrna and after that in Constantinople as the company treasurer. There he became acquainted with the knowledge of colloquial Turkish and Arabic. He returned to England around 1670-1671.

Before he got the post in the English East India Company he was involved in different ventures. He became the member of the Mercers' Company, supreme among the City's Livery Companies, investor of the Royal African Company, and assistant of the Levant Company.

Hedges is the best known as the first English governor of the affairs of the East India Company in Bengal. Until 1681 the Company’s commercial interests in Bengal were managed from Fort St George (Madras). Due to the growth of Company’s trade in Bengal and manifold complaints on the management, the Court of directors decided to establish a separate and independent Agency for Bengal (1682). The Council of Bay, comprised of six members was established in order to manage the affairs in Bengal, and William was appointed its first governor. However, the Agency did not achieve any improvements in Bengal’s affairs and in 1683 it was dissolved.

Hedges kept a diary during his residence in India which provides important source for reconstructing the history of Mughal Bengal and of the early history of the British in India. Although he experienced failure in India, the life in England proved to be more successful. He was awarded knighthood (in 1688), made Sheriff of London (in 1693) and a director of the Bank of England (in 1694).

He never returned to India.