Umed Singh II

HH Maharao Sir Umed Singh II GCSI GCIE GBE (15 September 1873 – 27 December 1940) was a ruling Maharaja of Kotah from 1889 to 1940.

Umed Singh II
Maharao of Kotah
Reign1889–1940
PredecessorShatru Sal II
SuccessorBhim Singh II
Born15 September 1873
Died27 December 1940(1940-12-27) (aged 67)
IssueBhim Singh II

Although never appointed to any official post within the British Raj, Sir Umed served as an advisor to leading government officials, and was much sought after for his advice. He sent his troops to fight in both the First World War and the Second World War.

Life

The great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Kishore Singh, a Raja of Kota, Sir Umed Singhji was adopted at a young age by Shatru Pal the then Maharaja of the state. Following his death in 1889, Umed Singhji (Udai Singh, as he was then named) embarked on a long and distinguished career as a soldier and statesman, being educated at Mayo College in Ajmer.

He received the honorary rank of Major in the Army in the 1903 Durbar Honours on 1 January 1903.[1][2]

He died in 1940, aged 67, after a reign of 52 years, and was succeeded by his son, Bhim Singhji II.

Photo of Maharao Ummed singh II, Kotah statue placed at Garh Palace
Maharao Umed Singh II of Kotah in a portrait

Titles
  • 1873–1889: Kunwar Sri Umaid Singh
  • 1889–1900: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
  • 1900–1903: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI
  • 1903–1907: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI
  • 1907–1911: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, GCIE, KCSI
  • 1911–1915: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, GCSI, GCIE
  • 1915–1918: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, GCSI, GCIE
  • 1918–1939: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, GCSI, GCIE, GBE
  • 1939–1940: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Umed Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, GCSI, GCIE, GBE

Honours

Legacy
Rolls-Royce

In 2011, his 1925 Phantom I Rolls-Royce, customised with mounted guns and searchlights for tiger hunting, came up for auction in the US. The auto is expected to sell for up to $1.6 million.[3]

  1. "The Durbar Honours". The Times. No. 36966. London. 1 January 1903. p. 8.
  2. "No. 27511". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1903. p. 4.
  3. "Indian tiger hunting Rolls Royce is for sale". BBC News. 26 July 2011.
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