Hyder Ali (c. 1722–1782) was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. He is said to have induced his brother to employ a Parsi to purchase artillery and small arms from the government of Bombay Presidency, and to enrol some thirty sailors of different European nations as gunners, and is thus credited with having been "the first Indian who formed a corps of sepoys armed with firelocks and bayonets, and who had a train of artillery served by Europeans." He induced Shamaiya Iyengar into his ministry as minister of post and police and later Shamaiya served under Tipu Sultan.

Hyder Ali (c. 1722–1782) was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. He is said to have induced his brother to employ a Parsi to purchase artillery and small arms from the government of Bombay Presidency, and to enrol some thirty sailors of different European nations as gunners, and is thus credited with having been "the first Indian who formed a corps of sepoys armed with firelocks and bayonets, and who had a train of artillery served by Europeans." He induced Shamaiya Iyengar into his ministry as minister of post and police and later Shamaiya served under Tipu Sultan.

Hyder Ali (c. 1722–1782) was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. He is said to have induced his brother to employ a Parsi to purchase artillery and small arms from the government of Bombay Presidency, and to enrol some thirty sailors of different European nations as gunners, and is thus credited with having been "the first Indian who formed a corps of sepoys armed with firelocks and bayonets, and who had a train of artillery served by Europeans." He induced Shamaiya Iyengar into his ministry as minister of post and police and later Shamaiya served under Tipu Sultan

Hyder Ali, founder of a kingdom in Mysore and  was the father of the inimitable Tipu Sultan. He was born in Ajmir, Rajasthan in 1717 to Fateh Muhamed, an ordinary soldier of the Mysore army. Whether Hyder Ali’s ancestors were from Punjab, from Rajasthan, or from the far away Baghdad has not yet been conclusively agreed upon.  But we know of an illiterate Hyder, who was very bold, extra-ordinarily shrewd and hard working, of high qualities of an administrative leader and a successful military campaigner.

His father was killed in a battle and Hyder and his elder brother Shabas joined the army for a living.  Within a short span of time, Hyder proved his mettle not just as a soldier, but as a leader too. His was a career of continuous military campaigns. He had two wives, the second he married at the insistence of the sick first wife. His celebrated son, Tipu was mothered by the second wife, Fatima, in 1750.

 In 1749 he established himself as a powerful military leader at a battle in Devanahalli, Mysore.  Hyder, though from Mysore, led the large army of the Nawab of Arcot to a stunning victory against the French. As commander in chief of the Mysore army, Hyder won several brilliant military victories one after the other.