In 1809, Lord ______ signed the Amritsar Treaty with Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Charles T. Metcalfe

The correct answer is Option (4) - Charles T. Metcalfe

Charles T. Metcalfe was a prominent British colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of India during the early 19^th century. In 1809, during his tenure, he signed the Amritsar Treaty with Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire.

The Amritsar Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Amritsar, was a diplomatic agreement signed between the British East India Company, represented by Charles T. Metcalfe, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire. The treaty aimed to establish peaceful relations and delineate the boundaries between the Sikh Empire and the British territories in the Indian subcontinent. The treaty was mutually beneficial for both parties. For the British, it provided a measure of security along the northwest frontier of their Indian possessions, especially in the volatile region of Punjab. For Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the treaty allowed him to consolidate his control over his territories and focus on internal administration and expansion within his empire.

While the specific terms of the treaty varied, it generally included agreements on non-interference in each other's internal affairs, delineation of boundaries, mutual defense against external threats, and the establishment of trade relations. As the representative of the British East India Company and the Governor-General of India, Charles T. Metcalfe played a crucial role in negotiating and signing the treaty. His diplomatic skills and leadership were instrumental in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement that served the interests of both parties. The Amritsar Treaty helped maintain relative peace and stability along the northwest frontier of British India for a period. However, tensions and conflicts between the British and the Sikh Empire would later escalate, leading to the Anglo-Sikh Wars in the 1840s and the eventual annexation of Punjab by the British.

Overall, the Amritsar Treaty signed by Charles T. Metcalfe in 1809 was a significant diplomatic agreement that shaped the relationship between the British East India Company and the Sikh Empire during the early 19^th century in the Indian subcontinent.