Philip Melvill (East India Company officer)


Philip Melvill was a British Bengal Army officer who went on to be Military Secretary to the East India Company.

Military career

Born the fourth son of Captain Philip Melvill, Melvill was commissioned into the Bengal Army in 1815. His elder brothers included Sir James Cosmo Melvill and Henry Melvill. Sir Philip Melvill was his younger brother.
He was appointed Military Secretary to the East India Company in 1837 remaining there until 1858.
He retired when the East India Company was nationalized in 1857 to Ethy near Lostwithiel in Cornwall where he died.

Family

Melvill's eldest son, Philip Sandys Melvill, became Agent to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India at Baroda. His younger son, Teignmouth Melvill, won the Victoria Cross during the Anglo-Zulu War.