The EIC's Pirate Hunters: The Bombay Marine

While the East India Company is famous for its armies and navies, its little-known Bombay Marine—a private naval force—patrolled the Arabian Sea for over two centuries. This episode dives into the story of the Bombay Marine, from its humble beginnings in the 1600s protecting Company shipping from Portuguese and Dutch rivals, to its golden age fighting the Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, who terrorized European ships from his fortress at Vijaydurg. We explore how the Marine suppressed piracy—including the notorious European pirate Henry Every—and how it later evolved into the Royal Indian Navy after the Company's demise. Along the way, we meet commanders like Sir William James and learn about the Marine's unique role as a mix of warship, pirate hunter, and mercantile protector. A forgotten chapter of naval history that shaped the Indian Ocean. #BombayMarine #EastIndiaCompany #KanhojiAngre #HenryEvery #Vijaydurg #IndianOcean #NavalHistory #Piracy #SirWilliamJames #Maratha #Bombay #ArabianSea #RoyalIndianNavy #Surat #CompanyNavy #17thCentury #18thCentury #FexingoHistory #BritishEmpire #RobertClive Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo