Tippoo Sahib or Tip� Sult�n c.1749-99
Sultan of Mysore

The son of Haidar Ali, he completely routed Bailey (1780, 1782) and Braithwaite (1782) during his father's wars with the British. In 1782 he succeeded his father as Sultan of Mysore. An able general and administrator, he was cruel to enemies and lacked his father's wisdom. He captured and killed most of the garrison of Bednur (1783), but after the conclusion of peace between France and Great Britain he agreed to a treaty (1784) confirming the status quo. He sent ambassadors to France (1787) to stir up a war with Great Britain, and, failing in this, in 1789 he invaded the protected state of Travancore. In the ensuing war (1790-92) the British, under Stuart and Cornwallis, were aided by the Marathas and the Nizam, and Tippoo was defeated (1792), and had to cede half his kingdom. He then sent another embassy to the French. After recommencing hostilities in 1799, he was killed during the siege of Seringapatam by General George Harris (1746-1829).