Philip Sandys Melvill facts for kids

Philip Sandys Melvill (born 29 November 1827, died 2 January 1906) was an important British official who worked in India when it was ruled by Britain. He was also part of a special group called "Henry Lawrence's Young Men."

Early Life and Education

Philip Sandys Melvill was born in London, England. His father, also named Philip Melvill, was an officer for the East India Company. This was a powerful British trading company that played a big role in ruling India.

Philip Sandys Melvill went to two well-known schools: Rugby and Haileybury. Haileybury was a special college that trained young men to work for the East India Company in India.

Working in India

Melvill arrived in India in October 1846. He joined the Bengal Civil Service, which was a group of British officials who helped manage the country. His first job was assisting Sir Henry Lawrence. Lawrence was a key British leader in Lahore and the North West Frontier region.

Melvill became good friends with Henry Lawrence. Lawrence chose him to be one of his "Young Men." This was a special team of agents. Their job was to help keep order and support British interests in the Punjab and North West Frontier areas.

Important Roles

Melvill held many different jobs in the Punjab region between 1846 and 1875. He started as a settlement officer, helping to organize land records and taxes. He then worked his way up to become a Commissioner, overseeing larger areas like Hoshiarpur, Ambala, and Jullundur.

Later, he served as a judge in the main court of the Punjab. In 1875, he was part of a special committee. This committee looked into matters concerning the ruler of Baroda. In the same year, he became the British Resident of Baroda. He stayed in this important role until he retired in 1881.

In 1876, Melvill received a special honor. He was named a Companion of the Order of the Star of India. This award recognized his important service to the British Empire in India.

Family Life

In 1851, Philip Sandys Melvill married Eliza Johnstone in Jullundur. They had two sons and six daughters together. His younger brother was Teignmouth Melvill, who was a brave soldier and received the Victoria Cross award.