he Prize Committee presented Baird with one of Tipu's swords on 6th June 1799, but Baird's Field Officers at Seringapatam considered this inadequate recognition of their General's inspiring leadership. They therefore commissioned from Jeffreys and Jones a dress sword bearing Baird's arms and monogram, with enamel plaques depicting Baird leading the attack, and Baird receiving the surrender of Tipu's sons. Col. J.C.Sherbrooke, the senior of these officers, wrote to Baird on 4th June 1799 :

'I am requested by the field-officers who had the honour of personally serving under you at the storming of Seringapatam, on the 4th ultimo, to inform you that they have ordered Messrs Jeffreys and Jones to make a dress sword, value two hundred guineas, bearing the following inscription:- "SERINGAPATAM, taken by storm the 4th May 1799," on one side, and on the other "Presented by the Field Officers who personally served under Major-General Baird on that occasion", which they beg you will do them the honour of accepting as a mark of their esteem, and of their admiration of your personal exertions on that day. Jeffreys and Jones have been directed to send out the sword by the earliest conveyance, and we hope that you will receive it before the anniversary of the capture.'

By contrast, Sir David Wilkie worked for 4 years on Lady Baird's commission for a heroic portrait of her late husband. The painting was not finally completed until 1838, nearly 40 years after the momentous events at Seringapatam in 1799.