M. Kantharaj Urs

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Sir Maddur Kantharaj Urs (1870–1923) was an Indian royal, civil servant, and administrator who served as the 20th Dewan (prime minister) of Mysore from 1918 to 1922, during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV.

He was born on 20 September 1870 in Maddur, to Narasaraja Urs and Kempananjammanni, from the Kalale Wadiyar dynasty. His older sister was Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi. Kantharaj Urs studied at Madras Christian College (1892–1893) and became the first Ursu to graduate with distinction.

In 1894, he was appointed Probationary Assistant Commissioner in the Mysore civil service. After the death of his brother-in-law Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar X in 1894, his sister became Queen Regent in 1895, and she made him her Special Assistant and Private Secretary (1895–1899).

In 1918, Urs succeeded Sir M. Visvesvarayya as Dewan of Mysore to his nephew Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. He married his niece, Princess Jayalakshami Amanni, the eldest daughter of his sister Kempananjammani Devi. They had one daughter, Rajakumari Lelavathi. Their residence was the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion in Mysore, which is part of the University of Mysore today. He died on 3 October 1923 in Bangalore, aged 53.