- Surat: Located on the west coast of India, it was a major port during the Mughal era. The English established their first factory here in 1613. - Bombay: Leased by the British Crown from Portugal in 1661 and later transferred to the East India Company. Developed as a major port much later than Surat. - Sutanuti: One of the three villages (Sutanuti, Gobindapur, and Kalikata) that were amalgamated by Job Charnock in the late 17th century to form Calcutta, where the British established a fortified settlement (Fort William). - Madras: The English founded the city of Madras (now Chennai) and built Fort St. George in 1639, establishing a factory there. Therefore, Surat predates Bombay, Sutanuti/ Calcutta, and Madras as the site of the first English factory.