Lord Wellesley was appointed Governor-General of Fort William by the British government on this day.

He remained in the post till 1805.

He contributed significantly to the expansion of the British empire in India. He led the British forces to invade Mysore in 1799 and defeat Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who was killed.

Wellesley initiated the Second Anglo-Maratha War. As a result of his campaigns, French territory and influence in India was reduced. He founded the Fort William College in Calcutta in 1800, for the training of European administrators in India, and the Institution for Promoting the Natural History in 1801 at Barrackpore.

Some of his administrative decisions were not received well in Britain. He was later appointed foreign secretary in the British Cabinet and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

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