St John Thackeray belonged to Madras Civil Service,[1] and was working as a collector and political agent, for Southern Mahratta Doab region of British East India Company.

[3] Mallasarja died in 1824, and whether he adopted a boy before his death was a fact contested by St John Thackeray.

[4] He along with other forces tried to enter the fortified town of Kittur with "inadequate means".

[1] First he was shot in the stomach as he rode towards the fort and was later hacked to death by a Kittur swordsman.

[1] Amatur Balappa, one of the lieutenants of Kittur Chennamma, was involved in killing Thackeray.