James Tod went to India as a cadet in the Bengal army of the British East India Company in 1799. He commanded the escort attached to the Resident at Sindhia from 1812 to 1817. In the latter year he was in charge of the Intelligence Department which largely contributed to the break up of the Maratha Confederacy in the Third Anglo- Maratha War, and was of great assistance in the campaign in Rajputana.