The Governor-General of India was the head of the British colonial government in India from 1773 until 1947, and the head of state for an independent India from 1947 to 1950. The position was abolished in 1950 and replaced with the President of India.
The office was first established in when the British Parliament passed the India Regulating Act. The Act changed to charter of the East India Company and represented the first step towards direct colonial government, the British Raj.
To recognize India's importance in the British Empire, the Governor-General's position was given the title of Viceroy.
When India gained independence in 1947, the old title was revived and in 1948 Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (popularly known as Rajaji and C.R.) became the only native to ever hold the post. The post was abolished after his term of office under the new Indian constitution and replaced with a presidency.
List of Governor-Generals