The French East India Company was formed by
Colbert under state patronage in 1664.
The first French factory was established at
Surat by Francois Caron in 1668.
A factory at Masulipatam was set up in 1669.
The French power in India was revived under
Lenoir and Dumas (governors) between 1720 and 1742.
They occupied Mahe in the
Malabar, Yanam in Coromandal and Karaikal in Tamil Nadu (1739).
They arrived of Dupleix as French governor in
India in 1742 saw the beginning of Anglo- French conflict (Carnatic Wars )
resulting in their final defeat in India.