Rajinder Singh of Patiala

Sir Rajinder Singh (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. Singh was regarded as the leader of the Sikh community and the premier Maharaja in Punjab.

Early life
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.

Reign
Singh became the Maharaja of Patiala upon the death of his father, Mahendra Singh, in 1876. He was four years old when he ascended the thrown. Singh was described as "the first reigning Prince to blend the elements of the English gentleman and Indian potentate." In the 1890s, he became one of the first Indians to own a car, a French De Dion-Bouton in 1892. He also sent a hospital ship to China.

Military service
Noted for his military service, Singh participated in the Mohmand campaign of 1897 – 1898 and in 1898, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Star of India (GCSI) by the British Raj for his service during the campaign. He also offered support for the British Empire's administration in the Transvaal Colony.

Sports
Singh was known for his contribution to sports. He owned and played for his own cricket team against other Indian princes. In Chail, now in Himachal Pradesh, which was Singh's summer residence, he constructed the Chail Cricket Ground. The Chail Cricket Ground is the highest cricket ground in the world and the construction required leveling a mountaintop that is 8,000 feet high. He was also was known for playing polo and was described as the best polo player in India. While playing for his own polo team, Singh won the Indian Open Championship in 1899. Singh played field hockey and English billiards as well.

Relations with the British
However, despite Singh's cooperation with and service to the British, his actions, including neglecting the administration of his own state and extravagant spending habits, caused controversy with the British Raj. By Singh's reign, the Maharaja of Patiala had come to be regarded as the leader of the Sikh community and the premier prince in Punjab. This, coupled with the fact that half of the British Indian Army at the time were Sikhs, troubled the British colonial administration as Singh would refuse to listen to their warnings or advice.

Personal life
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.

In 1893, Singh married Florence Bryan, the daughter of his Irish horse stable superintendent and persuading her to convert to the Sikhism. 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. In 1894, his child with Florence Maharani was poisoned to death and in 1895, Florence Maharani died under mysterious circumstances.

He was a close friend of William Beresford and of Frederick Roberts. 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.