M. E. Grant Duff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mountstuart Grant Duff
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| Governor of Madras Presidency | |
| In office 5 November 1881 – 8 December 1886 |
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| Governor General | The Marquess of Ripon, The Earl of Dufferin |
| Preceded by | William Huddleston (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Bourke |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 23 April 1880 – 26 June 1881 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | The Earl Cadogan |
| Succeeded by | Leonard Courtney |
| Under-Secretary of State for India | |
| In office 8 December 1868 – 17 February 1874 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Preceded by | The Lord Clinton |
| Succeeded by | Lord George Hamilton |
| Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs |
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| In office 1857–1881 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | George Skene Duff |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Asher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff
21 February 1829 Eden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Died | 12 January 1906 (aged 76) Chelsea, London, England |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Anna Julia Webster |
| Children | 8, including Claire Grant Duff |
| Parents | James Grant Duff Jane Ainslie |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (born February 21, 1829 – died January 12, 1906) was an important Scottish politician, administrator, and writer. He held several key government jobs. He was the Under-Secretary of State for India from 1868 to 1874. Later, he became the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1880 to 1881. His most well-known role was as the Governor of Madras (a region in India) from 1881 to 1886.
He was born in Eden, Scotland. His father, James Grant Duff, was a famous historian. Mountstuart went to Balliol College, Oxford and studied law. After a short time working as a lawyer, he decided to enter politics. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Elgin Burghs as part of the Liberal Party.
His skills helped him get important government roles. After his time as Governor of Madras, he stopped working in politics. He then spent his time involved with various art and science groups. He traveled a lot and wrote many books and diaries. People had different opinions about his work in the 1880s. Some thought he had great potential but didn't always achieve as much as expected.
He received special honors, including being made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire and a Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India. He passed away at the age of 76.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff was born on February 21, 1829, in Eden, Banff, Banffshire, Scotland. He was the older son of James Grant Duff, who was a well-known British official in India. His mother was Jane Catherine. Mountstuart was named after Mountstuart Elphinstone, a person his father admired greatly.
He went to school at Edinburgh Academy and Grange School. From 1847 to 1850, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned his master's degree in 1853. During his studies, he had problems with his eyesight. Because of this, he often needed help from others to see for the rest of his life.
He also studied law at the Inns of Court in London. He became a lawyer in 1854. For a while, he taught law and wrote for a magazine called Saturday Review. Soon after, he decided to join the Liberal Party and start a career in politics.
Starting a Political Career
In 1857, Mountstuart Grant Duff was elected to the House of Commons. This is a very important part of the British Parliament. He represented the area of Elgin Burghs as a member of the Liberal Party. He served as an MP from 1857 to 1881.
As an MP, he worked to improve education in his area. He also gave speeches every year about foreign policy. To make his speeches accurate and helpful, he traveled to other countries. This helped him understand what was happening around the world. In 1879, he even met Karl Marx, a famous thinker. Grant Duff said he had a good impression of Marx, even though they had very different ideas.
Important Government Jobs
Because of his knowledge about international issues, he was given roles in the government's foreign department. In 1868, he was appointed Under-Secretary of State for India. This meant he helped manage affairs related to India. He held this position until 1874. During his time, a difficult event involving a group called Kukas happened in India. Grant Duff had to take responsibility for how it was handled.
When the Liberal Party returned to power in 1880, Grant Duff was appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. This role involved helping to manage Britain's colonies around the world. He served in this job until June 1881. At this time, he also became a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, a group of advisors to the Queen.
Governor of Madras
In 1881, Mountstuart Grant Duff became the Governor of Madras. Madras was a large and important region in India. He had visited Madras before and loved its beach. So, as governor, he immediately started building a long walkway along the beach. This walkway was called "The Marina" and was opened in 1884. He was very proud of it, saying it turned a "dismal beach" into "one of the most beautiful promenades in the world."
An interesting fact is that a type of yellow Iris flower was named after him: Iris grant-duffii. This flower was found in Israel and later by Grant Duff himself in India.
He also strongly supported Dietrich Brandis in his efforts to organize the Madras Forest Department. This helped to protect and manage forests in India.
However, his time as governor also had some challenges. He was criticized for how he handled some disagreements and protests, like the Salem Riots of 1882. A local newspaper, The Hindu, accused him of being unfair. He also faced accusations of favoring certain groups.
Despite the criticism, some people praised his work. Louis Mallet, another important official, said that Grant Duff left behind a very "able and complete record" of his time as governor.
In 1884, a new political group called the Madras Mahajana Sabha was formed in Madras. This group played a big part in connecting with other Indian groups and forming the Indian National Congress in 1885. The Indian National Congress became a very important organization for India's independence movement.
After his term, Grant Duff visited Rome. The Speaker of the Italian Parliament was amazed when Grant Duff told him that the province he governed in India was "larger than Italy."
Life After Politics
When Mountstuart Grant Duff returned to England in 1887, he focused on arts and sciences. He was the Lord Rector of University of Aberdeen from 1866 to 1872. He was also a member of several important clubs and societies, including the Athenaeum. He served as the president of the Royal Geographical Society from 1889 to 1893. He was also president of the Royal Historical Society from 1892 to 1899.
In 1881, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists. In 1903, he became a trustee of the British Museum, a famous museum in London.
Family Life
In April 1859, Mountstuart Grant Duff married Anna Julia Webster. They had eight children together: four sons and four daughters. Their oldest daughter was Clare Annabel Caroline. One of his sons, Adrian Grant-Duff, was a colonel in the army and sadly died in battle in 1914. Adrian's daughter was Shiela Grant Duff, who became a well-known journalist.
Mountstuart Grant Duff passed away at his home in Chelsea, London, in January 1906. He was 76 years old. He was buried in Elgin Cathedral in Scotland.
His Writings
Mountstuart Grant Duff was a very active writer. He kept detailed diaries and published many books. Here are some of his notable works:
- Notes from a diary. London: John Murray. (These were published in several volumes covering different years from 1851 to 1901).
