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Who was Warren Hastings?

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Burke, Edmund — Edmund Burke Edmund Burke.

Warren Hastings (1732–1818) was the first and most prominent British governor-general of India, overseeing the East India Company’s affairs from 1772 to 1785.1

Beginning his career as a junior clerk in 1750, Hastings rose through the ranks during a period of significant political transformation in India. Upon his return to England, his administration became the subject of intense scrutiny. Edmund Burke, driven by a deep moral concern regarding British conduct in India, spearheaded an impeachment against him.23

Burke’s prosecution, which took place before the House of Lords between 1788 and 1795, focused on controversial actions such as the execution of Nandakumar and his treatment of Indian rulers. Although Hastings was ultimately acquitted, the trial served as a landmark effort to establish ethical standards for the governance of British territories abroad.3