The Second Anglo-Mysore War

The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)

The first Anglo-Mysore War took place in 1767-69. Haider Ali emerged victorious against the British and at the end of the War a defensive treaty was concluded between Haider Ali and the British. After eleven years, the Second Mysore War broke out and the main causes for the second Anglo-Mysore War were:

          The British failed to fulfill the terms of the defensive treaty with Haider when he was attacked by the Marathas in 1771.

There was an outbreak of hostilities between the English and the French (an ally of Haider) during the American War of Independence.

The British captured Mahe, a French settlement within Haider's territories.

          Haider Ali formed a grand alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas against the British in 1779. The War began when the British led their forces through

Haider's territory without his permission to capture Guntur in the Northern Sarkars. Haider Ali defeated Colonel Baillie and captured Arcot in 1780. In the next year, Warren Hastings, by a clever stroke of diplomacy, divided the Confederacy. He made peace with the Nizam, won the friendship of Bhonsle and came to an understanding with the Scindia (both Marathas). Consequently, Haider was isolated without any alliance. He was defeated by Sir Eyre Coote at Porto Novo in March 1781. In December 1782, Haider died of cancer at the age of sixty and his death was kept secret till his son Tipu Sultan assumed power.

The Second Mysore War came to an end by the Treaty of ordingly, all conquestsMangalorewerein mutually 1783 restored and the prisoners on both sides were liberated.

Pitt's India Act, 1784

The Regulating Act proved to be an unsatisfactory document as it failed in its objective. In January 1784, Pitt the Younger (who became Prime Minister of England after the General Elections) introduced the India Bill in the British Parliament. Despite bitter debate in both the Houses, the bill was passed after seven months and it received royal assent in August 1784. This was the famous Pitt's India Act of 1784.

Main Provisions

          A Board of Control consisting of six members was created. They were appointed by the Crown.

          The Court of Directors was retained without any alteration in its composition.

          The Act also introduced significant changes in the Indian administration. It reduced the number of the members of the Governor-General's Council from four to three including the Commander-in-Chief.