Vishwasrao was an India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n noble of the Maratha Empire

Maratha Empire

The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....

.

Early life

Vishwasrao was born the eldest son of Nanasaheb Peshwa

Nanasaheb Peshwa

Nanasaheb Peshwa , also known as Balaji Bajirao, was the son of Bajirao from his marriage with Kashibai and one of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. He contributed heavily to the development of the city of Pune, India. He was appointed as Peshwa by Chattrapati Shahu himself...

 at Supa (now Joida

Joida

Joida is a small town in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. The town is the headquarters of the eponymous taluk, lying in the Uttara Kannada district. Located close to Ambikanagar, Joida is also called Supa by locals. KPCL maintains the Supa Dam, which straddles the Kali River nearby.Joida...

) near Pune

Pune

Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

. He was trained in administrative matters and was exposed to military training early in his life.

Marriage

Vishwasrao was married to Radhikabai

Radhikabai

Radhikabai was the daughter of Sardar Gupte of Nashik, Maharashtra, India, a Tipnis of Baji Rao I and later Raghunathrao. She was the niece of Parvatibai, wife of Sadashivrao Bhau, and was emotionally attached to her...

, daughter of Sardar Gupte who acted as tipnis (secretary) for his grandfather, Baji Rao I, and later for his uncle, Raghunathrao

Raghunathrao

Raghunathrao was Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy from 1773 to 1774. He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan.-Early life:Raghunathrao, also known as "Raghoba" and "Ragho Bharari," was the younger brother of Nanasaheb Peshwa. His father was Peshwa Bajirao I & mother was Kashibai....

. Chatrapati Shahu

Shahuji

Shahu Sambhaji Raje Bhosale Chhatrapati Maharaj was the fourth ruler of the Maratha Empire created by his grandfather, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and was officially the Raja of Satara...

, to broaden the base of his Peshwa

Peshwa

A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...

 administration, fixed Radhikabai’s marriage to Vishwasrao on Padwa day of 1749 as one of the preconditions for making the Peshwa post hereditary. Chatrapati Shahu’s confidante Parvatibai

Parvatibai

Parvatibai was second wife of Sadashivrao Bhau. She was from Kolhatkar family of Pen.- Family Life:...

 had likewise become the wife of Sadashivrao Bhau

Sadashivrao Bhau

Sadashivrao Bhau was son of Chimaji Appa and Rakhmabai and nephew of Peshwa Baji Rao I and served as the commander of the Maratha army.-Birth and early years:...

. Gopikabai

Gopikabai

Gopikabai was the daughter of Bhikaji Naik Raste of Wai, near Pune.- Childhood:Gopikabai was noticed by Radhabai, the mother of Peshwa Baji Rao I during her visit to the Raste family...

 had reservations about this match, as Radhikabai was not from the Chitpavan

Chitpavan

The Chitpavan or Chitpawan, also known as Konkanastha Brahmins , are a Smarta Brahmin community of Konkan, the coastal region of western Maharashtra in India....

 community.

Military service and death

Vishwasrao was first exposed to actual warfare at Sindhkeda near Hyderabad, against Nizam in 1756. He was killed at the Third Battle of Panipat when a stray cannon shell hit his head. He died during the battle and was later cremated.