Thomas Stephens was the first Englishman to reach India, at least by sea route. He sailed for India on a Portuguese ship as a Jesuit missionary on 4th April 1579 and landed at Goa six months later, on 24th october.
The Pindaris (Also known as Scavengers of the Maratha) were the irregular horsemen during the time of Bajirao I. They settled in Malwa after the third battle of Panipat (1761).