Christian missionary activity, at this period, opposed the East India Company's wishes, which in general and by tradition were "orientalist": based on respecting local laws, customs and religions.
The Company's Charter came up for renewal every 20 years, and in 1793 political moves to modify the "orientalist" line failed.
[3] It was not until 1805 that Simeon, with the support of Charles Grant as East India Company director, was able to nominate chaplains who were recognised as evangelists to the Indian population.
[5] The phase of evangelical activity condoned in this way by the Company was short, however: it came to an end when Brown and Henry Martyn died in 1812.
[6] The "five chaplains" is a phrase attributed to John William Kaye, as applying to David Brown, Claudius Buchanan, Henry Martyn, Thomas Thomason, and Daniel Corrie.