At which one among the following places did the British East India Company found its factory in the year 1611?
- A.Madras
- B.Masulipatam
- C.Bombay
- D.Balasore
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Masulipatam. In 1611 the English East India Company opened its first factory on the east coast at Masulipatam, the chief port of the Golconda kingdom.
Masulipatam, now Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, was famous for its cotton textiles, which the English wanted for the spice trade of South-East Asia. On the west coast the Company set up its factory at Surat in 1613, after Thomas Best defeated the Portuguese at Swally and Jahangir granted permission. These two were the first footholds of the English in India.
A, Madras, came later: Francis Day obtained the site in 1639 and Fort St George was built there.
C, Bombay, came to the English Crown in 1661 as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry and was handed to the Company in 1668.
D, Balasore in Odisha got an English factory in 1633.
Exam tip: English factories, Masulipatam 1611, Surat 1613, Balasore 1633, Madras 1639, Bombay 1668, Calcutta 1690.
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