With reference to the various English men who visited India, consider the following statements.

1. William Hawkins was sent to mughal emperor Jahangir’s court to obtain permission to open a factory at Surat by EIC.

2. Sir Thomas Roe came to India as ambassador of James I to mughal emperor Jehangir’s court to seek permission to conduct trade in Indian subcontinent.

3. William Leeds was appointed by Akbar in his court as a diamond expert.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below.

Solution

· Statement 1 is correct: William Hawkins was sent to mughal emperor Jehangir’s court to obtain permission to open a factory at Surat by EIC. Jehangir initially was willing to grant permission but later refused due to Portugese pressure. In the early 1600s the British navy defeated the Portugese many times near Bombay and Surat which led Jehangir in 1612 to give permission to the English to set up a factory at Surat. · Statement 2 is correct: Sir Thomas Roe came to India as ambassador of James I to mughal emperor Jehangir’s court in 1615 and stayed there till the end of 1618 during which period, he obtained the emperor's permission to trade and erect factories in different parts of the empire. · Statement 3 is correct: Akbar offered William Leeds with a job as a diamond expert at his court, along with a house and servants when he visited India. The jeweller was also one of the earliest travellers to India, gradually made Fatephur Sikri his home.