Maharaja of Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu
Reign	18 January 1841 – 15 September 1843
Coronation	27 January 1841 Lahore Fort, Lahore
Predecessor	Nau Nihal Singh (as monarch until 1840) Chand Kaur (as regent in 1840–1841)
Successor	Duleep Singh
Prime minister	Dhian Singh Dogra
Born	4 December 1807 Batala, Sikh Empire(present-day Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India)
Died	15 September 1843 (aged 35) Shah Bilaal gardens, Lahore, Sikh Empire(present-day Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan)
Consort	Prem Kaur Waraich (m.1822)
Spouses	Desa Kaur Nakai ​ ​(m. 1819; died 1821)​ Bibi Pratap Kaur Jagat Singh Brar ​ ​(m. 1825)​                 Dakno Kaur Mai Sahiba ​ ​(m. 1842)​
Issue	By Maharani Desa Kaur: * None By Maharani Prem Kaur: * Yuvraj Pratap Singh Bahadur By Maharani Pratap Kaur: * Kanwar Deva Singh Bahadur By Maharani Dakno Kaur: * Shahdeo Singh Bahadur
House	Sukerchakia
Father	Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab
Mother	Mehtab Kaur Kanhaiyā
Religion	Sikhism

Early Life
Sher Singh was born on 4 December 1807 to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. He had a twin brother, Tara Singh (1807–1859). In 1820, Maharaja Ranjit Singh recognized Sher Singh’s potential by granting him the privilege of being seated in the royal Darbar and bestowing upon him several civil and military honors. Between 1831 and 1834, Sher Singh served as the Governor of Kashmir, and in 1834, he led the Sikh forces to successfully capture Peshawar from the Afghans.

Military Campaigns
In 1831, when Syed Ahmad Barelvi declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a stronghold at Balakot, Sher Singh, accompanied by Pratab Singh Attariwala and Akali Hanuman Singh, launched a decisive campaign against him. The battle resulted in the death of Syed Ahmad Barelvi, Shah Ismail Dehlvi, and nearly 500 of their followers. For his bravery and leadership, Sher Singh was rewarded with Rs. 50,000, a formal letter of appreciation, and a promise of an additional jagir.

Reign
Sher Singh officially ascended the throne on 27 January 1841, following the sudden and suspicious death of Nau Nihal Singh. He secured his position as Maharaja with the support of his wazir, Dhian Singh Dogra, after a successful assault on Lahore Fort, which caused thousands of casualties.

As ruler, Sher Singh was a patron of the arts, supporting artists like Kehar Singh and August Schoefft. He also had a personal interest in wrestling, frequently hosting matches near the tomb of Qasim Khan in Lahore. One of the renowned wrestlers in his court was Sultan Muhammad, who later became a contractor under British administration.

Death
Sher Singh was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia. Ajit Singh tricked the Maharaja by presenting a new shotgun for inspection. While Sher Singh examined it, Ajit Singh shot him and then decapitated him with a sword. Soon after, Dhian Singh Dogra was also killed by the Sandhawalia clan. This conspiracy was believed to be motivated by the Sandhawalias’ ambition to control the Sikh Empire, especially following the removal of Chand Kaur, who had served as regent.

Legacy
Sher Singh’s contributions as a military leader, patron of the arts, and administrator remain remembered in Sikh history. His palace now houses Baring Union Christian College, serving as a historical landmark of his era.

References 

• (No date) R/punjab on reddit: On this day in Punjabi history, Maharaja Sher Singh, the son of sher-e-punjab and last capable ruler of the Sikh Empire, was treacherously betrayed and assassinated by the Sandhawalia brothers by being shot to death with a shotgun. the Empire would wither and crumble in a few years after his death. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/punjab/comments/16jm2vd/on_this_day_in_punjabi_history_maharaja_sher/ (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
• Maharaja Sher Singh (no date a) Maharaja Sher Singh | Discover Sikhism. Available at: https://www.discoversikhism.com/sikhs/maharaja_sher_singh.html (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
• Maharaja Sher Singh (no date b) Maharaja Sher Singh - Jatland Wiki. Available at: https://www.jatland.com/home/Maharaja_Sher_Singh (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
• Maharaja Sher Singh (no date c) Maharaja Sher Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Maharaja_Sher_Singh (Accessed: 16 January 2025).