The early nineteenth century is generally regarded as the period of the establishment of British paramountcy in India, a process put into motion under the aegis of Lord Wellesley. This thesis attempts to bring into perspective the part played by one of the men subordinate to the Governor-General and yet, by virtue of being appointed to posts far from Calcutta, independent of him to some extent. Sir John Malcolm played an important part in diplomatic events which removed the final obstacles to British paramountcy -the Maratha states of central India.