James Hartley (East India Company officer) facts for kids

James Hartley (1745–1799) was a British army officer. He worked for the East India Company, a powerful trading company that also had its own army. Hartley mostly fought in wars against the Maratha Empire and Tipu Sultan of the Kingdom of Mysore in India.

Early Life and First Steps in the Army

James Hartley was born in England in 1745. When he was 19, in 1764, he joined the army of the Bombay presidency in India. A "presidency" was like a large region controlled by the East India Company.

In 1765, Hartley took part in battles against pirate strongholds. These were places where pirates lived, like Rairi and Malwan on the Malabar Coast.

By 1768, he became a lieutenant. In 1770, he was made an aide-de-camp to the Governor of Bombay. This meant he was a personal assistant to the governor. He helped with the landing of troops who captured Baroach in 1772. In 1774, he became a captain and led a group of Bombay Sepoys. Sepoys were Indian soldiers trained by the British.

Fighting in the First Anglo-Maratha War

Hartley's most important military actions began during the First Anglo-Maratha War. This was a big conflict between the British and the Maratha Empire.

In February 1775, Hartley was sent to help Colonel Keating in Gujarat. But the main British government in Calcutta stopped the war in August. This led to the Treaty of Purandar (1776). Hartley and other British forces returned to Bombay.

War Resumes and Difficult Retreat

Three years later, the war started again. The Bombay government sent an army to the Konkan region. Their goal was to march over the Western Ghauts mountains to Poonah. Hartley was offered a high position as quartermaster general, which meant he would manage army supplies. But he chose to lead his soldiers instead.

On January 4, 1779, Captain Stewart, a brave officer, was killed. Hartley took over his command of six companies of grenadier sepoys.

On January 9, the British army reached Tullygaom, close to Poonah. But a civilian leader with the army became scared of the growing number of Maratha soldiers. He decided they should retreat. Hartley strongly disagreed, but his advice was ignored. The retreat began on January 11. Hartley's group was ordered to protect the rear of the army.

A Heroic Stand at Wadgaon

At dawn on January 12, the Marathas attacked the retreating army fiercely. They focused their attack on the rear, where Hartley's soldiers were. The sepoys were losing hope and almost running away. Hartley had to speak to them personally to stop them from deserting.

Even though his men were struggling and the enemy had many more soldiers, Hartley fought skillfully. He managed to protect the army, allowing them to reach Wargaum. Hartley again protested against the Convention of Wargaum. This was an agreement where the British gave up their ally, Rughoba, to retreat safely.

When Hartley arrived in Bombay in 1779, everyone saw him as the person who saved the British army from being completely destroyed. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He was also put in charge of the European infantry (foot soldiers) in Bombay.

Securing the Konkan Region

In December 1779, Hartley was sent to help Colonel Thomas Goddard in Gujarat. He led the attack that captured Ahmedabad on February 18.

However, on May 8, he was called back to Bombay. His new job was to protect the Konkan region. This area, between the Western Ghauts mountains and the sea, was vital for Bombay's supplies.

On May 24, he defeated a group of Marathas who were attacking Kallian. On October 1, he crushed another enemy attack at Mullungurh. He also made sure the Bhore Ghaut, a key mountain pass, was well-guarded. This secured the Konkan region for the British.

In November, Goddard began to besiege Bassein (now Vasai). Hartley, with about 2,000 men, was told to hold a position to the east. His job was to stop the Marathas from helping the city under siege. On December 10, 20,000 Marathas launched a strong attack on Hartley's defenses at Doogaur. After a tough battle, the attackers were pushed back. The soldiers in Bassein then surrendered.

A Setback and Royal Help

Hartley continued to command in the Konkan. But then, a message arrived from London. It praised his service but said his recent promotion to lieutenant-colonel was not valid. He would not get the higher rank or pay until other officers who were senior to him were promoted first.

Hartley was deeply upset and left the army. In December 1781, he sailed to England to explain his situation to the East India Company's directors. They refused to change their decision. However, they recommended him to King George III. The King then made him a lieutenant-colonel in the 75th Regiment.

In April 1788, Hartley returned to India with his regiment. He was appointed Quartermaster General of the Bombay Army and joined the military board.

Battles Against Tipu Sultan

In 1790, war broke out with Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Hartley was given command of a group sent to the coast of Cochin. Their mission was to help the Rajah of Travancore, who was an ally of the British.

In May, Hartley was ordered to attack Palghatcheri. This was an important fort that controlled a pass through the Western Ghauts into Mysore. But when Hartley was 40 miles away, he heard the fort had already surrendered.

He kept marching and gathered supplies for the main army. He also watched for any movements of Tipu's troops. On December 10, he won a huge victory against a much larger force led by Hussein Ali, Tipu's general, at Calicut. The remaining enemy soldiers were chased to Feroke and surrendered. The British then took over that fort.

Siege of Seringapatam

In January 1791, Hartley advanced towards Seringapatam (now Srirangapatna), Tipu's capital. But the siege was put off, and the Bombay troops went back to Cannanore.

When the siege started again in December 1791, Hartley was working under General Robert Abercromby. He again marched from Cannanore to join the main army. He arrived on February 16, 1792. On February 22, he helped defeat an enemy attack aimed at Abercromby's position. Peace was made on February 25. Because of his knowledge of the area, Hartley was made commander of the forces in the new provinces that Tipu had given to the British.

War with France and Return to India

When war with France began in 1793, Hartley led the expedition that captured the French settlement of Mahé in Malabar. In March 1794, he was promoted to colonel and returned to England for a while.

In May 1796, he became a major-general and was assigned to the staff in India. He returned to Bombay in 1797. Besides his military rank, he also became a supervisor and magistrate for the Province of Malabar.

Final War with Tipu Sultan

In 1799, war broke out again with Tipu. The plan was to attack Seringapatam (now Srirangapatna) from both the east and west. The Bombay Army, led by General Stuart with Hartley as second in command, gathered at Cannanore. They then marched across the mountains of Coorg towards Tipu's capital.

On March 5, an advance group of three sepoy battalions under Colonel Montressor at Seedaseer was attacked by Tipu's army. Hartley had gone ahead early that morning to scout the area. He was the first to realize how serious the attack was. After sending a message to General Stuart, he stayed with the trapped battalions.

Since the main army was eight miles away, the advance group had to fight for six hours against a huge number of enemies. Finally, Stuart arrived with more soldiers, and Tipu's army retreated. This victory made it possible to surround Seringapatam from the west. Hartley was present when Tipu's capital was stormed on May 5, 1799.

Sudden Death

After the victory, Hartley returned to his civilian duties in Malabar. But he died after a very short illness on October 4, 1799, at Cannanore.