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Sir Robert Grant,GCH (1779 – 9 July 1838) was a British lawyer and politician. Born inBengal in 1779, his family relocated to England in 1790.
He studied law atMagdalene College, Cambridge, and in 1807 passed the bar. He became aCommissioner in Bankruptcy. Between 1818 and 1832, he was an elected member of Parliament for several differentBurghs.[1]
On 11, August 1829, inInverness-shire Grant married Margaret Davidson, daughter of Sir David Davidson.[2] They had four children, two daughters and two sons. Grant died inDapodi, inPoona, India in 1838.
Robert Grant was born in India, the second son ofCharles Grant, chairman of the Directors of theHonourable East India Company, and younger brother ofCharles Grant, later Lord Glenelg. After arriving in Britain with their father in 1790, the two brothers were entered as students ofMagdalene College, Cambridge, in 1795. In 1801 Charles was fourthwrangler and senior Chancellor's medallist; Robert was third wrangler and second Chancellor's medallist.[3]
Grant wascalled to the bar the same day as his brother, 30 January 1807, and entered into legal practice, becomingKing's Sergeant in the Court of theDuchy of Lancaster, and one of theCommissioners in Bankruptcy. He was electedMember of Parliament for theElgin Burghs in 1818, and for theInverness Burghs in 1826. The latter constituency he represented for four years. In 1830 and 1831, he was returned forNorwich, and in 1832 forFinsbury. He advocated for the removal of thedisabilities of the Jews, and twice carried bills on the subject through theHouse of Commons. They were, however, rejected in theUpper House, which did not yield on the question until 1858, twenty years after Grant's death. In 1832 he becameJudge Advocate General, and in 1834 was appointedGovernor 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 decisionto occupy Aden, which was carried out shortly after his death.[4]
He died atDapodi, nearPoona on 9 July 1838.[5] His remains are housed in theSt. Mary's Church, Poona.[6]
In his younger days, Grant published an essay on the trade and government of India, and a sketch of the early history of theBritish 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 onPsalm 104.[7] Additional hymns include "Saviour, when in dust to thee"[8] and "Confidence in God."[9]
Grant Medical College, the oldestmedical college inMumbai, India, is named after Robert Grant, as areGrant Road and Grant Road Station in the same city.
Grant married Margaret, only daughter of Sir David Davidson of Cantray, with issue two sons and two daughters:
Ten years after his death, Margaret marriedJosceline Percy, second son ofthe Earl of Beverley, with issue one son, George Algernon, born in 1849, who later became Capt. and Lt. Col. of theGrenadier Guards.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:The Northern Highlands in the nineteenth century (1907) by James Barron
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forElgin Burghs 1818–1820 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forInverness Burghs 1826–1830 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forNorwich 1830–1832 With:Richard Hanbury Gurney | Succeeded by |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forFinsbury 1832–1834 With:Robert Spankie | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge Advocate General 1832–1834 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Bombay 1835–1838 | Succeeded by |