Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of India, serving from 1773 to 1784. Born in Churchill, Oxfordshire, he joined the British East India Company as a clerk in 1750. Hastings rose through the ranks, becoming the British Resident of Murshidabad in 1757 and later a member of the Calcutta council in 1761. After returning to England in 1764, he came back to India in 1769 as part of the Madras council and was appointed Governor of Bengal in 1772 before becoming the first Governor-General.

Hastings played a key role in extending and consolidating the East India Company's control in India, building on the foundation laid by Robert Clive. He was a patron of Indian learning and deeply interested in Indian literature and philosophy. Hastings also facilitated the English translation of the Bhagavad Gita, contributing to the spread of Indian culture. His tenure marked a significant phase in British colonial administration in India.