Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)

• Unlike Warren Hastings, Lord Cornwallis belonged to a high, respectable family in England.
• Before becoming Governor-General of Bengal, Cornwallis had acted as the Commander-in-Chief of the British armies in the American War of Independence.
• He was the one who surrendered at Yorktown, bringing an end to the War of American Independence.
• Cornwallis accepted the office of Governor-General with great hesitation.
• The Pitt’s India Act was amended in 1786 specifically to allow Cornwallis to combine the powers of Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief.
• He was also given the power to overrule the members of his Executive Council.
• Throughout his 7-year tenure as Governor-General, Cornwallis enjoyed the confidence of the Board of Control and the Prime Minister of England.
• This support enabled him to accomplish a lot during his time in office.
• Cornwallis’ work can be discussed under foreign policy and internal reforms.

Foreign Policy

• Lord Cornwallis followed a policy of non-intervention in the affairs of Indian States as laid down in the Pitt’s India Act.
• The Pitt’s India Act included a clause stating that schemes of conquest and the extension of dominion in India were repugnant to the nation’s policy.
• The Governor-General and his Council could not declare wars, start hostilities, or enter into any treaty to make war against Indian princes or states without the express authority of the Court of Directors or the Select Committee.
• In line with this policy, Cornwallis refused to help the son of Shah Alam recover his throne of Delhi.
• Cornwallis gave a stern warning to Mahadji Scindia against interfering in the affairs of Oudh.
• Despite this policy, Cornwallis could not avoid a war against Sultan Tipu.

Third Mysore War (1790-92)

• Lord Cornwallis, in a letter dated November 1786, anticipated a possible conflict with Tipu due to his ambition and likely alignment with France.
• Cornwallis was cautious not to make the English appear as the aggressors, aiming to avoid a war with Mysore without support from other Indian States.
• Cornwallis violated the spirit of the Pitt’s India Act by making a new treaty and engagements that involved the dismemberment of an ally’s territory, breaking faith with the Nizam.
• Cornwallis revived the 1766 treaty with the Nizam, which claimed sovereignty over Mysore, thus effectively declaring war on Mysore.
• The Raja of Travancore purchased Cranganore and Ayacottah forts, which were vital for the safety of Mysore. Cornwallis supported the Raja, angering Tipu.
• Cornwallis attempted to form alliances against Tipu by sending instructions to Malet, the Resident at Poona, to persuade the Peshwa to fight against Tipu, offering terms of recovering lost territories.
• On June 1, 1790, a treaty of alliance was signed with the Peshwa, and the Nizam signed one on July 4, 1790. Both treaties were defensive alliances against Tipu.
• The British also made defensive alliances with the Raja of Coorg and the Bibi of Cannanore.
• Tipu attempted to secure French help, but was unsuccessful due to the French Revolution, and failed to win support from the Nizam and Peshwa.
• Tipu appealed to Cornwallis for peace, but it was rejected, leading to the Third Mysore War.
• In 1790, Cornwallis personally took command, capturing Bangalore but was forced to withdraw due to supply shortages.
• In 1792, Cornwallis captured hill forts and advanced on Seringapatam. The Marathas destroyed Mysore’s territory.
• Tipu, finding his position hopeless, sought peace, resulting in the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792), where Tipu had to surrender half of his territory, pay a war indemnity of 34 crores, and give two sons as hostages.
• Malabar, Coorg, Dindigul, and Baramahal were given to the English, while the Marathas and the Nizam received other parts of the territory.
• Critics argue Cornwallis could have annexed Mysore entirely but refrained due to caution, fearing betrayal by the Marathas and Nizam and potential disapproval from the Court of Directors.
• Cornwallis opted for caution, stating: “We have effectually crippled our enemy without making our friends too formidable.”
• After the war, Tipu focused on internal reforms in Mysore, paying the indemnity and redeeming his sons by 1794.
• Tipu reorganized his military forces, improved the fortifications of Seringapatam, and promoted cultivation and industrial pursuits, making Mysore prosperous.
• Nana Fadnavis adopted a friendly stance towards Mysore, rejecting Cornwallis’s proposed new treaty with the allies.