Rajinder Singh of Patiala
Sir Rajinder Singh GCSI (25 May 1872 – 8 November 1900) was the Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from 1876 to 1900. During his reign, Singh was noted for his military service, tense relations with the British Raj, marriage to an Irish woman named Florence Bryan, and his contributions to sports both as a player and financial benefactor.[1][2] Singh was regarded as the leader of the Sikh community and the premier Maharaja in Punjab.[3]
For other people with the same name, see Rajinder Singh.Rajinder Singh
1876 – 1900
25 May 1872
8 November 1900 (aged 28)
- Jasmer Kaur Mansahia
- Florence Bryan
Bhupinder Singh
Mahendra Singh
Early life[edit]
Rajinder Singh was born on 25 May 1872. He was the son of Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala and a member of the Phulkian Dynasty.
Personal life[edit]
Singh was known to have at least married twice. His first wife, Jasmer Kaur Mansahia, was the mother of his heir and successor as Maharaja, Bhupinder Singh. Jasmer Kaur Mansahia tuberculosis and allegedly, due to grief that Singh had taken another wife.[3]
In 1893, Singh married Florence Bryan, the daughter of his Irish horse stable superintendent and persuading her to convert to the Sikhism.[3] He married Florence Bryan, who became known as Florence Maharani, despite protests and warnings from the British, and the British refused to recognize the child that the marriage produced.[3] In 1894, his child with Florence Maharani was poisoned to death and in 1895, Florence Maharani died under mysterious circumstances.[3]
He was a close friend of William Beresford and of Frederick Roberts.[4] The Irish composer Thomas O'Brien Butler (1861–1915), who spent some time in India, dedicated a song composition to him.
Singh died on 8 November 1900. Doctors attributed his death to alcoholism.[3]