The Trial of Warren Hastings: Impeaching a Corporate Empire

In the wake of the devastating Bengal Famine of 1770, the British Parliament turned its gaze to the man who had overseen the East India Company's fledgling empire in India: Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal. This episode dives into the unprecedented impeachment trial that captivated Britain for seven years, from 1788 to 1795. We explore the charges brought by Edmund Burke—corruption, despotism, and the ruin of Indian states—and the heated debates over whether a private corporation could be held accountable for its rule. Through the testimonies of Indian witnesses and the oratory of Parliament, we see the clash between imperial ambition and emerging notions of human rights. The trial, which ultimately ended in Hastings's acquittal, set a crucial precedent for the future of British imperialism and the limits of corporate power. Join Lucas and Luna as they unpack the drama, the personalities, and the legacy of a trial that asked: who judges the conquerors? #WarrenHastings #EdmundBurke #Impeachment #EastIndiaCompany #BengalFamine #BritishEmpire #18thCentury #CorporateAccountability #PhilipFrancis #SirElijahImpey #RohillaWar #ChaitSingh #BegumsOfAwadh #HouseOfLords #Imperialism #HumanRights #History #FexingoHistory #RobertClive #BattleOfPlassey Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo