In the context of British rule in India, which Governor General is historically credited with formally abolishing the Sati system or Sati pratha in India?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks knowledge of social reforms under British rule in India, specifically the abolition of the Sati system. Competitive examinations often test which Governor General or Viceroy is associated with key reforms, so it is important to link names, dates and measures correctly. Here, the focus is on the Governor General who legally prohibited the practice of Sati, where a widow was burnt or expected to die on the funeral pyre of her husband.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to the period of British rule in India.
- It asks which Governor General abolished the Sati system through a formal legal measure.
- The options list different British Governors General who served in India during various periods.
- We assume the question is about the famous regulation that made Sati illegal in territories under the East India Company.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this, you need to remember major social reform measures taken by various Governors General. The abolition of Sati is directly associated with Lord William Bentinck, who served as Governor General of Bengal and later as the first Governor General of India in the early nineteenth century. He worked closely with reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and passed a specific regulation declaring Sati illegal and punishable by law. The approach is to recall which Governor General is linked with which reform and then eliminate the incorrect options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Sati system involved the self immolation or forced burning of a widow on the funeral pyre of her husband. Step 2: Remember that Indian social reformers, especially Raja Ram Mohan Roy, strongly opposed this practice and requested British authorities to abolish it. Step 3: Lord William Bentinck, as Governor General in 1829, issued Regulation XVII, which formally banned Sati in the territories under the East India Company. Step 4: Note that other Governors General such as Lord Canning, Lord Ripon and Lord Dalhousie are known for different reforms like the introduction of local self government, the Doctrine of Lapse or later constitutional changes, not specifically the abolition of Sati. Step 5: Therefore, the Governor General directly associated with the legal abolition of the Sati system is Lord William Bentinck.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to make a mental list of major reforms: Lord William Bentinck and Sati abolition, Lord Dalhousie with the Doctrine of Lapse and modern public works, Lord Ripon with local self government and Lord Canning with events around the revolt of 1857 and the transfer of power to the Crown. Only Bentinck appears consistently in textbooks and exam guides as the Governor General who outlawed Sati in 1829. This cross check confirms that Lord William Bentinck is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Canning: Associated with the revolt of 1857 and the transfer of rule from the Company to the British Crown, not with the abolition of Sati.
Lord Dalhousie: Known for the Doctrine of Lapse, railway and telegraph expansion, but not for banning Sati.
Lord Ripon: Famous for introducing local self government in India, not for abolishing Sati.
Lord Wellesley: Remembered for the Subsidiary Alliance system and military expansion, not this social reform measure.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse various reform minded Governors General and randomly guess Dalhousie or Ripon because they are frequently mentioned in reform contexts. Another pitfall is focusing only on political and administrative reforms rather than social reforms. Students sometimes also forget the role of Indian reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, whose efforts influenced Lord William Bentinck to act against Sati. Mixing up time periods and assuming any famous Governor General can fit the answer leads to errors. Careful association of each name with a specific landmark reform prevents this confusion.

Final Answer:
In view of the historical evidence, the Governor General who formally abolished the Sati system in India was Lord William Bentinck.