TWO HOURS after midnight on 10 July 1806, sepoys crept up and murdered the European sentries at Vellore fort, where Tipu Sultan's family were state prisoners. The European quarters were surrounded and officers and soldiers in the barracks, including those in the hospital, were shot. The striped tiger of Mysore was hoisted. This revolt was put down very swiftly but not before the toll of dead and wounded on the British side was nearly 200. Shortly afterwards further disturbances occurred in Madras Presidency at Wallahjabad, Nundidrug, Bellary, Hyderabad, Palamcottah, Quilon and Bangalore. The sepoy mutiny sent shock waves through India and even more in Britain when news of it reached there in February the following year. Opponents of missionary activity seized on the mutiny as proof that their arguments that Indian religious prejudices were easily excited were only too true and that the greatest caution was needed in any interference with them. Grant and Parry had a battle on their hands to persuade the opposition that extreme action should not be taken against missionaries.

The causes of the Vellore Mutiny were a matter of fierce contention then and controversy over them continues to this day. Lord William Bentinck, Governor of Madras at the time, placed chief blame on the introduction of new dress regulations for the sepoys.