East India Company, a name given to various companies chartered by their respective governments to acquire territory and carry on mercantile operations in the East Indies. Most of these companies date from about the time of the discovery of America, or more particularly the discovery in 1498 of the route to India around the Cape of Good Hope. Among the more noted companies were the Portuguese, operating from 1587 to 1640; the Dutch, from 1595 to 1795; the Danish, from 1618 to 1845; and the French, from 1664 to 1769. Nothing said to the contrary, the East India company may be taken to refer to an English company chartered by Queen Elizabeth in 1600. It consisted of 125 stockholders. Its legal name was The Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading with the East Indies. The operations of this company were extensive and resulted in great financial gain to the merchants of London. Various acts of Parliament permitted the company to assume almost imperial power in the East. Immense territory was acquired. Large armies, both of native and British troops, were kept under pay. Extensive warehouses and wharves were constructed, and a merchant fleet, far surpassing in number the Spanish Armada, was maintained. As the business of the company grew, and the amount of territory increased, the British government found it necessary from time to time to assume control of the company's affairs. Finally it was dissolved, its affairs were wound up, and the commerce of the East Indies thrown open, not only to all British vessels, but to the merchants of all nations. Historically, the company is of great importance, because its projects led to the acquisition of India by the British government, and did more, perhaps, than any other known artificial factor to determine the career of England as the leading commercial nation. See INDIA; HASTINGS; BOMBAY.