GRINDLAY, Robert Melville. St.Marylebone near London 23.10.1786 — Nice, France 9.12.1877. British Colonial Officer and Artist in India, then Businessman in London. Son of Rev. Dr. John Grindlay (1756–1818) and his wife Elizabeth. Educated in London, Cadet 1802. Arrived in India in 1803 (when 17) and served 1804-20 in Bombay Native Infantry. Retired 1820 as Captain and returned to England. In 1828 started an agency house, Leslie & Grindlay (the future Grindlays Bank), organizing travels to India and back and arranging banking operations. Retired from business in 1852 and moved to Nice. Married 1823 Maria Susannah Commerel (1790–1862?), their only son died as infant.

Grindlay was a “gifted amateur artist” who made numerous sketches and paintings during his stay in India and made illustrations to several books by others (e.g. Elphinstone and Pottinger).

Publications: “Sculptures in the Cave Temples of Ellora”, TrRAS 2, 1830, 326f., 487-490, 7 pl.

– Scenery, costumes and architecture, chiefly on the western side of India. 36 colour pl. L. 1826-30.

– A View of the Present State of the Question as to Steam Communication with India. 2nd ed. 99 p. L. 1837.

Sources: A.K. Chatterjee 2018 in scroll.in/magazine/866960/robert-melville-the-artist-indophile-and-imperialist-who-founded-grindlays-bank; Wikipedia, long article with portrait.