Arrival of European Companies MCQ: Battle of Wandiwash & the Carnatic Wars (1746–1763)

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The Battle of Wandiwash (1760) was fought between?

   • A.French and Portuguese
   • B.English and French✓ Correct Answer
   • C.English and Dutch
   • D.English and Marathas

   Explanation: The Battle of Wandiwash was fought between the English and the French in 1760, leading to the defeat of the French.

2. Q2.Who led the English army in the Battle of Wandiwash?

   • A.Hector Munro
   • B.Sir Eyre Coote✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Robert Clive
   • D.General Goddard

   Explanation: Sir Eyre Coote led the British forces against the French in the Battle of Wandiwash (1760).

3. Q3.Which treaty restored Madras to the English after the First Carnatic War?

   • A.Treaty of Pondicherry
   • B.Treaty of Paris
   • C.Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Treaty of Madras

   Explanation: The First Carnatic War ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748), which restored Madras to the English.

4. Q4.Where was the French East India Company's first factory established?

   • A.Masulipatnam
   • B.Surat✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Pondicherry
   • D.Chandernagore

   Explanation: Francois Caron established the first French factory in India at Surat in 1668.

5. Q5.Which European power was the last to leave India?

   • A.British
   • B.French
   • C.Portuguese✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Dutch

   Explanation: The Portuguese were the first to arrive (1498) and the last to leave India (1961).

6. Q6.Who was the English Governor of Bombay expelled by Aurangzeb in 1688?

   • A.John Child✓ Correct Answer
   • B.John Gayer
   • C.Nicholas Waite
   • D.William Norris

   Explanation: Sir John Child, the English Governor of Bombay, was expelled by Aurangzeb in 1688 for surrounding Mughal ports.

7. Q7.In which year did the Dutch establish their factory at Masulipatnam?

   • A.1602
   • B.1605✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1616
   • D.1663

   Explanation: The Dutch established their first factory at Masulipatnam in 1605.

8. Q8.Which Captain defeated the Portuguese at Sowlley (Swally)?

   • A.Captain Hawkins
   • B.Captain Best✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Captain Roe
   • D.Captain Middleton

   Explanation: Captain Thomas Best defeated the Portuguese at Sowlley (Swally) near Surat.

9. Q9.Where did the English East India Company establish its first temporary factory in 1611?

   • A.Surat
   • B.Masulipatnam✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Madras
   • D.Bombay

   Explanation: The English East India Company established its first temporary factory at Masulipatnam in 1611.

10. Q10.Which of the following was NOT a French settlement?

    • A.Pondicherry
    • B.Mahe
    • C.Goa✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Chandernagore

    Explanation: Goa was a Portuguese settlement. Pondicherry, Mahe, and Chandernagore were French settlements.

11. Q11.The English East India Company was formed by a group of merchants known as:

    • A.Merchant Adventurers✓ Correct Answer
    • B.English Traders Guild
    • C.London Merchants
    • D.East India Traders

    Explanation: In 1599, a group named 'Merchant Adventurers' founded the English East India Company.

12. Q12.Who was the Mughal Emperor when the English East India Company established its first permanent factory at Surat?

    • A.Akbar
    • B.Jahangir✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Shah Jahan
    • D.Aurangzeb

    Explanation: The English established their first permanent factory at Surat in 1613 during the reign of Jahangir.

13. Q13.The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) ended which war in India?

    • A.First Carnatic War✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Second Carnatic War
    • C.Third Carnatic War
    • D.First Anglo-Mysore War

    Explanation: The First Carnatic War ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.

14. Q14.Who was the Portuguese Governor-General of Goa when India annexed it in 1961?

    • A.Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Jose Ferreira Bossa
    • C.Nino da Cunha
    • D.Albuquerque

    Explanation: Manuel Antonio Vassalo e Silva was the Governor-General of Goa in 1961.

15. Q15.Consider the following statements: 1. The First Carnatic War was an extension of the Austrian War of Succession. 2. The immediate cause was the seizure of French ships by the English. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    • A.1 only
    • B.2 only
    • C.Both 1 and 2✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Neither 1 nor 2

    Explanation: Both statements are correct. The war was an extension of the Austrian Succession war, and the seizure of French ships by Captain Barnett was the immediate cause.

16. Q16.Which English officer seized French ships in 1746, leading to the First Carnatic War?

    • A.Captain Best
    • B.Captain Barnett✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Captain Hawkins
    • D.Captain Paradise

    Explanation: The immediate reason for the First Carnatic War was the seizure of French ships by the English army under the leadership of Captain Barnett.

17. Q17.Who was the Nawab of Carnatic during the First Carnatic War?

    • A.Chanda Sahib
    • B.Anwaruddin✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Muzaffar Jang
    • D.Nasir Jang

    Explanation: Anwaruddin was the Nawab of Carnatic during the First Carnatic War. He sent an army against the French.

18. Q18.Who led the army of Nawab Anwaruddin in the Battle of St. Thome?

    • A.Mahfooz Khan✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Chanda Sahib
    • C.Raza Khan
    • D.Mir Jafar

    Explanation: The Nawab of Carnatic sent an army of 10,000 men under the leadership of Mahfooz Khan to attack the French.

19. Q19.In which year did the English East India Company establish its first factory in Orissa?

    • A.1611
    • B.1613
    • C.1633✓ Correct Answer
    • D.1651

    Explanation: In Eastern India, the English company opened its first factory in Orissa (Hariharpur and Balasore) in 1633.

20. Q20.Where was the first English factory in Eastern India established?

    • A.Hooghly
    • B.Hariharpur and Balasore✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Calcutta
    • D.Patna

    Explanation: The English Company opened its first factory in Orissa at Hariharpur and Balasore in 1633.