Wadgaon, Convention of

▪ Great Britain-Marāṭhās [1779]

      (Jan. 13, 1779), compact concluded after the First Marāthā War in India (1775–82), marking the end of British efforts to intervene in Marāthā affairs by making Raghunath Rāo peshwa (the nominal leader of the Marāthā Confederacy) or at least regent for his infant great-nephew.

      The compact was concluded after a British expedition, commanded by Colonel William Cockburn and controlled by Colonel John Carnac, was surrounded by Marāthā forces at Wadgaon, 23 miles (37 km) from Pune (Poona), and forced to come to terms. The terms included the return of all British annexations of Marāthā territory since 1773, including Salsette Island; the halting of a British force marching from Bengal; and a share of the revenues from the district of Broach for the Marāthā chief Sindhia. The terms were disavowed by the British authorities at Bengal, and the First Marāthā War dragged on until 1782, ending with the British abandonment of Raghunath and retention of Salsette.

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