Who was serving as Governor General of India at the time of the 1857 Revolt, also called the First War of Indian Independence?

Introduction / Context:
The revolt of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Indian Independence, is a major turning point in modern Indian history. It led to the end of rule by the East India Company and the transfer of power to the British Crown. Knowing which Governor General was in office at the time of the uprising, and who later became the first Viceroy under Crown rule, is a standard factual question in examinations on Indian history and polity.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is the revolt of 1857. • The office mentioned is Governor General of India. • Options are Lord Ellenborough, Lord Hardinge, Lord Bentinck, and Lord Canning.

Concept / Approach:
The solution depends on associating key Governors General with major events. Lord Bentinck is linked with social reforms in the 1820s and 1830s, including the abolition of sati. Lord Hardinge is associated with the first Anglo Sikh war. Lord Ellenborough term is remembered for the return of the gates of Somnath and certain military campaigns. The revolt of 1857, however, broke out when Lord Canning was Governor General. After the Government of India Act of 1858, he became the first Viceroy under Crown rule. Matching these historical pairings quickly identifies Lord Canning as the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place the revolt of 1857 in time and context: it began in May 1857 and spread across north and central India. Step 2: Recall that at this time the East India Company still formally ruled India, with a Governor General at its head. Step 3: Remember that Lord Canning held the office of Governor General during the uprising and faced the difficult task of restoring British authority. Step 4: Note that after the rebellion was suppressed, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act of 1858, transferring power to the Crown, and Lord Canning then became the first Viceroy. Step 5: Compare this with Lord Bentinck earlier period of rule, which ended well before 1857. Step 6: Recognise that Lord Hardinge tenure is linked mainly with the first Anglo Sikh war in the 1840s, not with the 1857 revolt. Step 7: Understand that Lord Ellenborough preceded these events and is not the Governor General at the time of the uprising.

Verification / Alternative check:
A practical way to verify is to remember a simple association: Canning and 1857. Many history summaries state this pairing explicitly and add that Canning is sometimes called Clemency Canning for his relatively moderate approach in certain cases after the revolt. Re reading any table of Governors General and their major events will confirm that his name appears alongside the 1857 uprising and the subsequent constitutional change in 1858.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Ellenborough: Held office earlier and is not linked by standard references with the 1857 revolt. Lord Hardinge: Associated primarily with the first Anglo Sikh war, which took place years before 1857. Lord Bentinck: Known for social reform measures such as the abolition of sati in the first half of the nineteenth century, not for the revolt.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Canning with earlier reform minded Governors General such as Bentinck, or they remember the revolt but attach it to the wrong name because they have not clearly constructed a chronological list. Another pitfall is to treat any nineteenth century Governor General as equally likely when the question clearly points to one specific event. To avoid these errors, maintain a compact timeline summarising which Governor General is associated with which major wars, reforms, or uprisings, and revise it regularly before exams.

Final Answer:
The Governor General of India at the time of the 1857 Revolt was Lord Canning.