GRANT-DUFF, James Cunningham (born James Grant). Banff, Aberdeenshire 8.7.1789 — Fife 23.9.1858. British (Scots) Colonial Officer and Historian in India. Son of John Grant (d. 1799) and Margaret Duff, educated at Marischal College in Aberdeen. Joined the E.I.C.’s military service in Bombay in 1805. He “was at the storming of Maliah, 1808; became Adjutant and Interpreter of his regiment; was Assistant to Mountstuart Elphinstone” in Poona. “As captain, he served against the Peshwa, Baji Rao, when the latter was dethroned in 1818, and was then made Resident of Satara, administering the state in the Raja’s name till 1822, and making treaties with Satara jagirdars. After five years he retired to Scotland” in c. 1823 and wrote there his book. He took the additional names Duff and Cunninghame on succeeding to landed estates. He knew Marathi, Urdu and Persian. Married, two daughters and one son, Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff (1829–1906), M.P. and Governor of Madras.
Publications: History of the Mahrattas. 1-3. 32+571, 19+483, 20+537 p. L. 1826, rev. ed. with notes by S. M. Edwardes. 1-2. 92+585, 21+572 p. Oxford 1921.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; J.A.H[amilron], D.N.B. 16, 1888, 130f. (as Duff); Wikipedia.
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