Mathabarsingh Thapa

Mathabar Singh Thapa (1798 – 17 May 1845), was a Nepalese statesman, administrator, and Commander-in-Chief who served as Mukhtiyar of the Kingdom of Nepal from 25 December 1843 to 1 January 1845. He later abolished the position of Mukhtiyar and established the office of Prime Minister, serving in that role from 1 January 1845 until his assassination on 17 May 1845. He also served as Commander-in-Chief of the Nepali Army throughout his tenure. He belonged to the noble Thapa family and was assassinated by his own nephew, Jung Bahadur Rana, through multiple gunshots while he was asleep.

Mathbar Singh Thapa was the nephew of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa, who was imprisoned on a false accusation of killing King Rajendra Bikram Shah’s six-month-old son. After Bhimsen Thapa's imprisonment on 18 May 1839, Mathabar Singh Thapa fled to Shimla to avoid possible execution due to his family ties.

Four years later, Queen Rajya Lakshmi Devi, the second wife of King Rajendra Bikram Shah, called him back and appointed him Mukhtiyar, paving the way for him to later assume the title of Prime Minister.

However, Mathabar Singh Thapa angered the queen by refusing to support her son Ranendra Bir Bikram Shah's claim to the throne. In response, the queen conspired against him, and he was assassinated by his own nephew, Jung Bahadur Rana, effectively marking the decline of the Thapa dynasty.