THE SERINGAPATAM MEDAL,[10] 1799.
Reading edition
THE SERINGAPATAM MEDAL,[10] 1799.
This medal was distributed to officers and soldiers—European and Native—on one side of it is represented the storming of the breach of Seringapatam, from an actual drawing on the spot, with the meridian sun, denoting the time of the storm, and the following inscription in Persian underneath:—“The Fort of Seringapatam, the gift of God, the 4th. May, 1799.” On the reverse side is the British Lion subduing the Tiger, the emblem of the late Tippoo Sultan’s Government, with the period when it was effected, and the following words in Arabic on the banner:—“Assud otta-ul Ghaulib,” signifying the Lion of God is the Conqueror, or the Conquering Lion of God.
Of these medals gold ones were struck for His Majesty, the Right Honourable Lord Melville, the Governor-General of India at the time, the Marquis Cornwallis, the Nizam and his two ministers, the Peishwah and his minister, the Nabobs of Arcot and Oude, and the Rajahs of Tanjore, Travancore, Mysore, Coorga, and Berar, Dowlut Rao Scindiah, the Commander-in-Chief, general officers on the staff employed in the Service, and for the Oriental Museum.
Silver-gilt medals were struck for the members of council at the three Presidencies, the Residents of Hydrabad and 16Poonah, the field officers, and the general staff on the service. Silver for the captains and subalterns, copper-bronzed for the non-commissioned officers, and pure grain tin for the privates.
The European officers of the Company’s service received permission in August, 1815, to wear the Seringapatam Medal. On the 16th. of that month the following representation was made to the Right Honourable the Earl of Buckinghamshire:—
“My Lord,
“Medals having been struck by the Court of Directors, with the approbation and concurrence of His Majesty’s Ministers, in commemoration of the storming of Seringapatam, and of the other splendid successes of the British Army in Mysore, in 1799; to be executed by an eminent artist, and distributed to the officers and soldiers, both of His Majesty’s, and of the Company’s troops, who served in that brilliant and decisive campaign.
“The European officers of the Company’s Service have represented to us that highly as they have been gratified with the receipt of those honourable bestowments, they experienced considerable mortification in not feeling themselves at liberty to wear them on great public occasions, such as being presented at Court, and at the Military Levees of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief.
“This sentiment necessarily strikes them with peculiar force at the present period, when all the officers of Europe, who have distinguished themselves in the service of their several Sovereigns, appear upon all public occasions, decorated with the honourable badges of their services and glory.
“We therefore intreat your Lordship to transmit these circumstances to His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, and to solicit his gracious permission, that the medals granted by the East India Company, upon the occasion of the capture of Seringapatam by storm on the 4th. of May, 1799, and the other splendid successes of the British Army in Mysore in that year, may be worn by the officers, who have received them, in such manner, and at such times as to His Highness may appear proper.
“We have etc.,
“Charles Grant.
“Thomas Read.”
This request was complied with in a letter, dated Whitehall, 29th. August, 1815, of which the accompanying is an extract:—
“Gentlemen,
“His Royal Highness has been pleased to grant his gracious permission that such officers may wear their medals in any part of His Majesty’s dominions.
“To the Chairman and (Signed) Buckinghamshire.”
Deputy-Chairman.”
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