Wood's despatch is the informal name for a formal despatch that was sent by Sir Charles Wood, the President of the Board of Control of the British East India Company to Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India.

The letter played an important role in spreading English-language learning and female education in British India.

One of the most favourable steps taken was to create an English-speaking class among the Indian people to be used as a workforce in the company's administration.

The governing policies later tended to become more reactionary, notably in the wake of major social and political unrest surrounding the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Some of its members thought that they should transform India into a civilised society and convert the Indian mindset by making rapid changes.