Dictionary of Indian Biography/Coote, Sir Eyre
COOTE, SIR EYRE (1726–1783)
Born in 1726: fourth son of the Rev. Dr. Chidley Coote : entered the Army in 1745 : went to India in 1754 with the 39th regt. and became Captain on June 18, 1755. Part of this regiment was included in the force dispatched from Madras to Bengal in 1756 against the Nawab Surajuddaula, after his capture of Calcutta. Coote was present at its recapture, at the taking of Chander-nagore, and at the victory of Plassey, on June 23, 1757 : Clive, it is said, acted on his advice among others to give immediate battle. In Jan. 1759, he was gazetted Lt-Colonel of the 84th regt., and to command the troops in Madras. In the war with the French, under Lally, he took Wandiwash, Nov. 30, 1759, and the fort of Carangooly, relieved Trichinopoly, defeated the French at Wandiwash, Jan. 22, 1760, and took Arcot. He besieged Lally in Pondicherry, while a naval force attacked it by sea. On its surrender in Jan., 1761, the French power in India completely collapsed : Coote returned to England in 1762, and was received with honour : became a Colonel on April 4, 1765, and M.P. for Leicester. In 1769 he was reappointed to command the troops in Madras, but resigned and returned to England in Oct. 1770, where he was made K.B. Aug. 31, 1771 : Maj-General Sep. 29, 1775 : Lt-General on Aug. 29, 1777 : and Commander-in-Chief in India, on April 17, 1777. He succeeded General Clavering as Member of the Supreme Council at Calcutta on March 24, 1779. When Hyder Ali of Mysore declared war, invaded the Carnatic in 1780 and defeated Colonel Baillie at Perambakam, Warren Hastings despatched Coote to Madras, which he reached on Nov. 5, 1780. Early in 1781 Coote took the field against Hyder, raised the siege of Wandiwash, marched on Cuddalore, attacked Chelambakam and won a decided victory at Porto Novo, July 1, 1781, besides defeating Hyder at Perambakam, Aug. 27, effecting the relief of Vellore and the capture of Chittore. His last encounter with Hyder was the indecisive skirmish at Arnee, June 2, 1782. Coote's failing health compelled him to resign the command in Madras and take a change to Calcutta. Only partially recovered, he returned to Madras early in 1783, but on the voyage was chased by the French. The anxiety and exposure produced a relapse, which proved fatal on April 28, 1783, two days after his arrival at Madras. His body was taken to England and interred at Rockburne, in Hampshire. A monument in Westminster Abbey was erected to him by the East India Company. His military capacity has been highly praised, as also his patience, temper, activity and energy, valour and coolness. His enforcement of discipline was tempered by kindness, which endeared him to his soldiers.