In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located? 1. Broach

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 1 and 2
3. C. 3 only
4. D. 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation

English East India Company was formed by a group of merchants known as the ‘Merchant Adventures’ in 1599. A charter to the new Company was granted by Queen Elizabeth (December, 1600) giving it the monopoly of Eastern trade for 15 years. Establishment of Factories by East India Company: West Coast: The English established factories at Agra, Ahmadabad, Baroda and Broach by 1619, all of which were placed under the control of the president and council of the Surat factory. The company acquired Bombay from Charles II on lease at an annual rental often pounds in 1668. South-eastern Coast: Factories were established at Masulipatam (1611) and Armagaon near Pulicat (1626). Eastern India: Factories were set up at Hariharpur and Balasore in Orissa (1633), at Hugli in 1651, followed by those at Patna, Dacca, Kasimbazar in Bengal and Bihar. Hence option (a) is the correct answer. Moreover, during Carnatic wars (18th C), in return for the French help to Salabat Jung, to the throne of Hyderabad as Nizam, Salabat granted the French the area in Andhra known as Northern Circars (The Northern Circars were 5 in number: Chicacole (Srikakulam), Rajahmundry, Eluru, Kondapalli and Guntur)-So during the first quarter of 17th C, Chicacole was under the control of regional kingdoms-there was no East India company factory here. Also during the same Carnatic wars, Trichinopoly was under the Kingdom of Arcot, as there was famous incident of seize of Trichinopoly. There was no EIC factory here too.