Final answer:
The first presidency of the British East India Company in India was Surat, established after the English built their first trade factory there in 1608. This marked the inception of the British presence in India, which later expanded with victories in battles and effective control over trade and tax collection, leading to the establishment of the British Raj.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first presidency of the British East India Company in India was established in Surat. Surat was chosen because in 1608, the English set up their initial trade factory there, marking the beginning of direct trade relations with India. Over time, England expanded its influence by establishing additional factories in locations such as Goa, Madras, and Bombay.
The British East India Company first arrived in India with the aim of trading in spices and textiles. Surat, being the premier English factory in the Indian subcontinent, quickly became an important trade center outside the Dutch control. The British influence in India grew significantly after they won the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and successfully defeated the French in 1761, further consolidating their power in the region.
The victory at Buxar in 1764 against the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II conferred substantial power on the Company, including the rights to collect taxes in Bengal. These events led to the establishment of British rule, administratively known as the British Raj, following the rampant Sepoy Rebellion in 1857. Consequently, the British Parliament disbanded the East India Company and took control over the territories it had governed, and Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876.