Question

Who founded the French East India Company?
A) Franois Caron
B) Mascara Avanchintz
C) Jean-Baptiste Colbert
D) King Louis XIV

Answer 1

Hint: The French East India Company was a commercial Imperial corporation established on September 1, 1664, to trade in the East Indies with the English and Dutch trading companies. King Louis XIV chartered it for the purpose of trade in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Complete answer:
Option A) Franois Caron: François Caron was a French Huguenot refugee in the Netherlands who spent 30 years with the Dutch East India Company, rising from cook's mate to Director-General at Batavia, only one grade below Governor-General. Since, he did not serve in French East India company. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option B) Mascara Avon Chintz : Mascara arrived in India in May 1669, where he had strong links to the kingdom of Golconda, and was instrumental in securing a trade agreement for the French. Since, the establishment happened in the year 1664 and Marcara arrived India in 1669. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option C) Jean-Baptiste Colbert : The French East India Company was established in the 17th and 18th centuries to supervise French trade with India, eastern Africa, and other Indian Ocean and East Indies territories. It was created by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, King Louis XIV's finance minister. Pondicherry was named the capital of the French settlements in India in February 1701. Surat saw the establishment of the first French factory in 1668. Hence, this option is correct.

Option D) King Louis XIV: During King Louis XIV's rule, the French East India Company was established in 1664 to trade with India. King Louis XIV chartered it for the purpose of trade in the Eastern Hemisphere. Hence, he was not the founder.Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Hence, the correct option is C) Jean-Baptiste Colbert.

Note: The French East India Company lacked government assistance because the French economy profited more from trade in the West Indies. After losing its monopoly on French trade with India in 1769, the company floundered until its abolition during the French Revolution in 1789.