James Cosmo Melvill

James Cosmo Melvill by Eton Upton Ellis, c. 1853.

Sir James Cosmo Melvill (1792–1861) was a British administrator who served as the last secretary of the East India Company.

Life

Born at Guernsey, he was the third son of Philip Melvill (1762-1811), later lieutenant-governor of Pendennis Castle in Cornwall, by his wife, Elizabeth Carey (died 1844), youngest daughter of Peter Dobree of Beauregarde, Guernsey; Henry Melvill was his elder brother. He entered the home service of the East India Company in February 1808.[1]

Melvill rose rapidly to the top permanent position at East India House. In 1824 he was appointed auditor of Indian accounts. While in this position he gave evidence in 1830 before a parliamentary committee, defending the company's conduct of its China trade from an attack by William Huskisson; and again in 1832 before another committee on Indian affairs in regard to the accounts of the company. In 1834 he became financial secretary, and in 1836 chief secretary, a post which he held until the termination of the company's existence as a governing body in 1858.[1]

He once lived at Cannon Hall, Hampstead.[2]

After his retirement from the service of the company, Melvill was appointed government director of Indian railways. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 14 January 1841, and was created K.C.B. on 5 September 1853.[1]

Melvill died at Tandridge Court, near Godstone in Surrey, on 23 July 1861.[1]

Family

In March 1815 Melvill married Hester Jean Frances (died 10 April 1864), youngest daughter of William Marmaduke Sellon of Harlesden in Middlesex. They had nine children:[1][3]

  • Philip Melvill (1817–1854), eldest son, administrator for the East India Company.[4]
  • James Cosmo Melvill (1821–1880), the second son. was an administrator in British India.[3]
  • William Henry Melvill, the third son, was a barrister.[5] He married Elizabeth Theresa Lister, youngest daughter of Thomas Lister, 2nd Baron Ribblesdale.[6]
  • Henrietta (1816–1900), eldest daughter, married in 1844 Richard Beachcroft.[7][8]
  • Marion, daughter, married in 1848 James Alexander Wedderburn.[9]
  • Fanny, the second daughter, married in 1854 the Rev. Henry Holme Westmore.[10][11]

References and sources

References
  1. 1 2 3 4 5  Lee, Sidney, ed. (1901). "Melvill, James Cosmo". Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement​. 3. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "CANNON HALL (1244093)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 Prior, Katherine. "Melvill, Sir James Cosmo". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/18541. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ↑ "Melvill, Philip (MLVL836P)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ↑ "Melvill, William Henry (MLVL845WH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  6. ↑ s:Men-at-the-Bar/Melvill, William Henry
  7. ↑ The Gentleman's Magazine. 1844. p. 310. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  8. ↑ Mill, John Stuart (1963-12-15). The Earlier Letters of John Stuart Mill 1812-1848. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. p. 922. ISBN 9781442638686. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  9. ↑ Allen's Indian Mail, and Register of Intelligence for British and Foreign India, China, and All Parts of the East. 1848. p. 217.
  10. ↑ Gentleman's Magazine, Or Monthly Intelligencer. Edward Cave. 1854. p. 186.
  11. ↑ "Westmore, Henry Holme (WSTR839HH)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
Sources

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1901). "Melvill, James Cosmo". Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement​. 3. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

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