1947 - Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was appointed the last Viceroy of India. He was charged with overseeing the transition of British India to independence no later than the end of June 1948. Mountbatten's instructions were to avoid partition and preserve a united India as a result of the transfer of power but authorized him to adapt to a changing situation in order to get Britain out promptly with minimal reputational damage. During his time in India, he oversaw the Partition of British India into India and Pakistan. Mountbatten then served as the first Governor-General of India until June 1948.