James Cosmo Melvill
Sir James Cosmo Melvill KCB FRS was a British administrator who served as the last secretary of the East India Company.Life
Born at Guernsey, he was the third but eldest surviving son of Philip Melvill, later lieutenant-governor of Pendennis Castle in Cornwall, by his wife, Elizabeth Carey, youngest daughter of Peter Dobrée of Beauregarde, Guernsey. Henry Melvill, Philip Melvill and Sir Peter Melvill were his younger brothers. He entered the home service of the East India Company in February 1808.
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.
He once lived at Cannon Hall, Hampstead.
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 a KCB on 5 September 1853.
Melvill died at Tandridge Court, near Godstone in Surrey, on 23 July 1861.Family
In March 1815 Melvill married Hester Jean Frances, youngest daughter of William Marmaduke Sellon of Harlesden in Middlesex. They had nine children:
- Philip Melvill, eldest son, administrator for the East India Company.
- James Cosmo Melvill, the second son. was an administrator in British India.
- Sir William Henry Melvill, the third son, was a barrister. He married Elizabeth Theresa Lister, youngest daughter of Thomas Lister, 2nd Baron Ribblesdale.
- Henrietta, eldest daughter, married in 1844 Richard Beachcroft.
- Marion, daughter, married in 1848 James Alexander Wedderburn.
- Fanny, the second daughter, married in 1854 the Rev. Henry Holme Westmore.
