Robert Grant (MP)

Portrait of Robert Grant, by William Beechey, 1823

Sir Robert Grant.

Sir Robert Grant GCH (1779 – 9 July 1838) was an Anglo-Indian lawyer and politician. He was born in Bengal, India in 1779. His family relocated to England in 1790.

He studied law at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and in 1807 passed the bar. He became a Commissioner in Bankruptcy. Between 1818 and 1832, he was an elected member of Parliament for several different Burghs.

On 11, August 1829, in Inverness-shire Grant married Margaret Davidson, daughter of Sir David Davidson. They had four children, two daughters and two sons. Grant died in Dapodi, in Poona, India in 1838.

Life

Robert Grant was born in India, the second son of Charles Grant, chairman of the Directors of the Honourable East India Company, and younger brother of Charles Grant, later Lord Glenelg. After arriving in Britain with their father in 1790, the two brothers were entered as students of Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1795. In 1801 Charles was fourth wrangler and senior Chancellor's medallist; Robert was third wrangler and second Chancellor's medallist.

Grant was called to the bar the same day as his brother, 30 January 1807, and entered into legal practice, becoming King's Sergeant in the Court of the Duchy of Lancaster, and one of the Commissioners in Bankruptcy. He was elected Member of Parliament for the Elgin Burghs in 1818, and for the Inverness Burghs in 1826. The latter constituency he represented for four years. In 1830 and 1831, he was returned for Norwich, and in 1832 for Finsbury. He advocated for the removal of the disabilities of the Jews, and twice carried bills on the subject through the House of Commons. They were, however, rejected in the Upper House, which did not yield on the question until 1858, twenty years after Grant's death. In 1832 he became Judge Advocate General, and in 1834 was appointed Governor of Bombay. As governor, Grant was a law unto himself and under his rule a multitude of large-scale projects were pushed forward which were to transform the shape of British policy in the East. He was a key player in the decision to occupy Aden, which was carried out shortly after his death.

He died at Dapodi, near Poona on 9 July 1838. His remains are housed in the St. Mary's Church, Poona.

Works

In his younger days, Grant published an essay on the trade and government of India, and a sketch of the early history of the British East India Company. He was the author of a volume of sacred poems, which was edited and published after his death by his brother, Lord Glenelg. This volume includes some hymns; his best known hymn is "O Worship the King", based on Psalm 104. Additional hymns include "Saviour, when in dust to thee" and "Confidence in God."

Legacy

Grant Medical College, the oldest medical college in Mumbai, India, is named after Robert Grant, as are Grant Road and Grant Road Station in the same city.

Family

Grant married Margaret, only daughter of Sir David Davidson of Cantray, with issue two sons and two daughters:

• Sir Charles Grant, K.C.S.I, formerly a Member of Council in India;
• Colonel Robert Grant, R.E., Deputy Adjutant General;
• Sibylla Sophia, married to Granville Ryder, Esq.; and
• Constance Charemile, who died in childhood.

Ten years after his death, Margaret married Josceline Percy, second son of the Earl of Beverley, with issue one son, George Algernon, born in 1849, who later became Capt. and Lt. Col. of the Grenadier Guards.

References

Attribution This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: The Northern Highlands in the nineteenth century (1907) by James Barron

External links

• "Note B: The Anglo-Indian Grants: Charles Grant", Appendix, The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century, Electric Scotland
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Robert Grant
• "Archival material relating to Robert Grant". UK National Archives.
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Robert Grant
• Works by or about Robert Grant at the Internet Archive
• Works by Robert Grant at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)