Who was appointed as the first Viceroy of India after the Revolt of 1857 and the Government of India Act 1858?

Introduction / Context:
After the Revolt of 1857, the British Crown took direct control over the administration of India from the East India Company. The Government of India Act 1858 created a new office called the Viceroy of India. This question tests knowledge of the important change from the office of Governor General to that of Viceroy and asks who first held this new title. It is a core fact in modern Indian history and appears frequently in competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time period is immediately after the Revolt of 1857.
• The Government of India Act 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown.
• The new head of the administration in India was known as the Viceroy.
• The options list four well known British officials: Lord Curzon, Lord Wavell, Lord Canning, and Lord Mountbatten, plus Lord Dalhousie.
• You have to identify who became the first Viceroy under the new constitutional setup.

Concept / Approach:
Before 1858, the head of British administration in India held the title Governor General of India and worked for the East India Company. Lord Canning was the last Governor General of the Company and continued in office when the British Crown took over. Under the Government of India Act 1858, his designation changed and he became the first Viceroy of India, representing the British monarch. The other names in the options served as Viceroys later or held other posts, but they were not the first to hold the title that emerged after the revolt.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that the Revolt of 1857 led to the end of East India Company rule. Step 2: The Government of India Act 1858 vested authority in the British Crown and introduced the title Viceroy of India. Step 3: Lord Canning was already serving as Governor General during the revolt and remained in office afterwards. Step 4: When the Crown took over in 1858, Lord Canning continued as head of administration, but his title changed to Viceroy, making him the first holder of that office. Step 5: Lord Curzon and Lord Wavell served later as Viceroys in the twentieth century, and Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy who oversaw independence in 1947. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is Lord Canning.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you check chronological lists of Governors General and Viceroys, you will see Lord Canning listed first under the heading Viceroys of India, with his tenure spanning both roles. Lord Curzon served from 1899 to 1905, Lord Wavell from 1943 to 1947, and Lord Mountbatten from 1947 to 1948. Lord Dalhousie left office before the revolt and was never Viceroy. This confirms that Canning alone matches the requirement of being the first Viceroy after 1858.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Curzon: He was an important Viceroy but served at the turn of the twentieth century, long after 1858, so he cannot be the first.

Lord Wavell: He was a World War period Viceroy and is linked with late colonial constitutional negotiations, not with the beginning of Crown rule.
Lord Mountbatten: He was the last Viceroy and supervised the transfer of power in 1947, not the first after the revolt.
Lord Dalhousie: He was a Governor General before the revolt and left office in 1856, well before the title Viceroy existed.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse Lord Dalhousie strong association with pre revolt expansion with the later title of Viceroy or to pick Lord Mountbatten because he is famous in the context of independence. Another pitfall is to forget that the same person, Lord Canning, bridged the two roles, first as Governor General of the Company and then as the first Viceroy under the Crown. Keeping this transition clear helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:
The first Viceroy of India after the Revolt of 1857 and the Government of India Act 1858 was Lord Canning.