East India Company

The East India Company was also known as the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) and 'John Company'. It was a joint-stock company that was granted an English Royal Charter on December 31, 1600 by Elizabeth I. The British East India Company started out as a commercial trading venture, but grew in strength and eventually virtually ruled India until the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

See the Wikipedia page (link below) for further information.