<P> 1801--1874 </P> <P> The English East India Company flag changed with history, with a canton based on the current flag of the Kingdom, and a field of 9 to 13 alternating red and white stripes . </P> <P> From the period of 1600, the canton consisted of a St George's Cross representing the Kingdom of England . With the Acts of Union 1707, the canton was updated to be the new Union Flag--consisting of an English St George's Cross combined with a Scottish St Andrew's cross--representing the Kingdom of Great Britain . After the Acts of Union 1800 that joined Ireland with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom, the canton of the East India Company flag was altered accordingly to include a Saint Patrick's Saltire replicating the updated Union Flag representing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . </P> <P> Regarding the field of the flag, there has been much debate and discussion regarding the number and order of the stripes . Historical documents and paintings show many variations from 9 to 13 stripes, with some images showing the top stripe's being red and others showing the top stripe being white . </P>

When was the first english factory established in india