The EIC's Forgotten Accountant: Who Audited the Company

In this episode of The East India Company: The Corporation That Conquered Nations, Lucas and Luna explore the forgotten world of Company accounting. Who audited the EIC? How did a corporation with global reach keep its books before modern accounting? They dive into the role of the Accountant-General in London, the use of double-entry bookkeeping, and the infamous scandal of the 1760s when auditors discovered massive fraud in Bengal. They discuss figures like Robert James, the Company's chief accountant, and the reformer Henry Dundas, who pushed for transparency. The episode also touches on the unique challenges of auditing a company that minted its own coins, maintained its own army, and conquered territories. Along the way, they examine the trial of William Hastings for corruption and the creation of the Board of Control in 1784. A fascinating look at the unsung heroes—and villains—of financial oversight in the early modern world. #EastIndiaCompany #Accounting #Audit #HenryDundas #RobertJames #BoardOfControl #WilliamHastings #Bengal #London #DoubleEntry #FinancialScandal #18thCentury #Corporation #ImperialFinance #History #FexingoHistory #EconomicHistory #ForgottenFigures Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo