Malcolm Grant (East India Company officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lieutenant General
Malcolm Grant
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| Born | 1762 |
| Died | 28 September 1831 Westminster, London, England |
| Allegiance | .svg){kind=small} East India Company |
| Service/ |
Bombay Army |
| Years of service | 1777–1807 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Unit | Bombay Native Infantry |
| Conflicts |
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Lieutenant General Malcolm Grant (1762 – 28 September 1831) was an important English army officer. He served in the Bombay Army, which was part of the East India Company's military forces in India. The East India Company was a powerful British trading company that also had its own army.
Contents
Malcolm Grant's Military Career
Joining the Army
Malcolm Grant began his military journey in 1776. He was accepted into a special training program called a cadetship for the infantry in the Bombay Army. He left England in January 1777. By November of that year, he became an ensign, which is a junior officer rank.
Early Battles in India
In 1779, Grant fought in the First Anglo-Maratha War. This war was against the Mahrattas, a powerful group in India. He supported Ragonauth Rao during this conflict. In 1780, he was promoted to lieutenant. He also took part in the siege of Bassein in 1780–81. A siege is when an army surrounds a place to try and capture it.
Service in Malabar and Mysore
After these early battles, Grant served in the Malabar region of India. He worked under General Norman MacLeod until 1788. Then, he went back home to England for a break. He returned to India in 1790.
He was promoted to captain in 1789 and major in 1796. From 1792 to 1798, he continued to serve in Malabar.
Fighting Tippoo Sultan
When the East India Company started fighting against Tippoo Sultan, a powerful ruler in Mysore, Grant played a key role. He led a special unit called the Bombay native grenadier battalion. This unit was made up of local soldiers.
His force had to retreat at one point. They traveled by sea to Cannonore and then marched to Sidapoor. They reached this area before the important city of Seringapatam was captured.
After Mysore's Capture
After the British captured Mysore, Grant commanded the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Bombay Native Infantry. He worked with troops under General James Stuart. They were stationed in Mangalore and Canara. He also helped capture the strong fort of Jemaulghur near Mangalore.
In 1800, Grant became a lieutenant-colonel in the 8th Bombay Native Infantry. He spent several years in Malabar, helping to stop local resistance against British rule. By 1804, he was in charge of all military operations in Malabar and Canara.
Capturing Savendroog
In December 1804, troops from the Madras Army took over in Malabar. Grant was on his way to Bombay when he received new orders. He was told to land in the Concan region with about three thousand men. His mission was to capture the fortress of Savendroog. This fort was held by a leader named Huri Belal. Grant successfully completed this difficult task. His actions pleased both the Indian government and the peishwa, a Maratha leader.
Later Life and Retirement
In 1807, Malcolm Grant returned to England because he was very ill. He continued to receive promotions even after leaving India. In 1809, he became a lieutenant-colonel commandant. In 1810, he became a colonel of the 9th Bombay Native Infantry.
He was promoted to major-general in 1813 and finally to lieutenant-general in 1825. Lieutenant General Malcolm Grant passed away at his home in London on September 28, 1831, at the age of 69.
