Britannica Sources used in this answer

What happened when Mangal Pandey attacked British officers at Barrackpore?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Illustration of De Kantzow defending the treasury at Mainpuri during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, showing a British officer confronting armed sepoys inside a building as tensions rise during the uprising. — Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indian sepoys (soldiers) corner a British officer amid their attack on a treasury in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.

On March 29, 1857, while stationed in Barrackpore, sepoy Mangal Pandey incited his fellow soldiers to rise up against their British officers. During the incident, he attacked two superiors—Sergeant Major James Thornton Hewson and Lieutenant Bempde Henry Baugh—by firing his musket at them and wounding them with a sword.12

Following the attack, Pandey attempted to shoot himself after being restrained but was ultimately overpowered and arrested. He was subsequently tried and sentenced to death for his actions. Although his execution was originally scheduled for April 18, British authorities moved the date to April 8, 1857, fearing that a delay would trigger a larger revolt.21

This event served as a catalyst for the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a widespread uprising against the East India Company that eventually led to the establishment of direct British rule in India.12