Fort William College Founding Details

The question asks about the founder of Fort William College, which was established in Kolkata in the year 1800.

Establishment of Fort William College

Fort William College was established in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1800. The primary purpose of this institution was to train the civil servants of the British East India Company in subjects such as Indian languages, law, and administration.

Founder Identification

The college was founded by Richard Wellesley, who was the Governor-General of Bengal from 1798 to 1805.

• Richard Wellesley envisioned the college as a centre for oriental studies and administrative training. He believed it was crucial for British officials to understand Indian culture, languages, and governance to effectively administer the territories under the Company's control.

Analysis of Other Options

Let's look at why the other options are less likely:

• Lord William Bentinck: He served as Governor-General later (1828-1835) and was known for significant administrative and educational reforms, including the promotion of English education, but he was not the founder of Fort William College in 1800.
• Warren Hastings: He was a Governor-General before Wellesley (1772-1785) and founded the Calcutta Madrassa in 1781 and supported Sanskrit studies, but Fort William College was established after his tenure.
• Jonathan Duncan: He was the Governor of Bombay Presidency and known for establishing a Sanskrit college at Benares (Varanasi) in 1791, not Fort William College in Kolkata.

Therefore, the individual responsible for founding Fort William College in 1800 was Richard Wellesley.