Philip Melvill
Encyclopedia
Philip Melvill was a nineteenth century philanthropist of Falmouth, Cornwall
.
He was born in 1762 in Dunbar
, in East Lothian
on the southeast coast of Scotland.
in the war against Hyder Ali
's forces. In 1780, he was wounded and captured. He was held prisoner for four years under bad conditions. On his release, he was promoted to Captain. However, he was still very ill and stayed with his brother in Bengal until 1786, when he was much recovered.
On his return to England in 1797, he was appointed the commander of an invalid company based on Guernsey, where he married Miss Elizabeth Dobree. He set up a school for the children of soldiers in his command.
He was then appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Pendennis Castle
and served until 1811. He formed the Pendennis Volunteer Artillery, a local militia .
.
They had nine children, including at least two daughters.
Their eldest son, John, was drowned, aged 19, off Madeira
, in 1808 .
Their second son died at the age of 12 .
Their third son, James Cosmo (1792–1861), was Secretary of the East India Company.
Their fourth son, Philip (1796- 1882), became Military Secretary to the East India Company
in 1837.
Their fifth son, Henry
(1798–1871), was a Church of England clergyman, who became principal of the East India Company College
, Haileybury and then a canon
residentiary of St Paul's Cathedral
; he was also rector
of Barnes
, Surrey
and a famous preacher..
Another son, Peter (1803 - 1895), became a Major General
, KCB
and was military and naval secretary to the government of Bombay .
The Falmouth Misericordia Society was still in operation in 1887.
"Melvill Road", connecting the A39 road with Falmouth Docks
is named after him.
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
.
He was born in 1762 in Dunbar
Dunbar
Dunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....
, in East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
on the southeast coast of Scotland.
Military service
He served in India, as a lieutenant in the 73rd regiment73rd Regiment of Foot
The 73rd Regiment of Foot also known as MacLeod's Highlanders after its founder John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod, was an infantry regiment of the British Army.- History :- First raising :...
in the war against Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
's forces. In 1780, he was wounded and captured. He was held prisoner for four years under bad conditions. On his release, he was promoted to Captain. However, he was still very ill and stayed with his brother in Bengal until 1786, when he was much recovered.
On his return to England in 1797, he was appointed the commander of an invalid company based on Guernsey, where he married Miss Elizabeth Dobree. He set up a school for the children of soldiers in his command.
He was then appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle is a Henrician castle, also known as one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, in the English county of Cornwall. It was built in 1539 for King Henry VIII to guard the entrance to the River Fal on its west bank, near Falmouth. St Mawes Castle is its opposite number on the east bank and...
and served until 1811. He formed the Pendennis Volunteer Artillery, a local militia .
Marriage and family
He married Elizabeth (1770–1845), youngest daughter of Peter Dobree of Beauregarde, GuernseyGuernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
.
They had nine children, including at least two daughters.
Their eldest son, John, was drowned, aged 19, off Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, in 1808 .
Their second son died at the age of 12 .
Their third son, James Cosmo (1792–1861), was Secretary of the East India Company.
Their fourth son, Philip (1796- 1882), became Military Secretary to the East India Company
Military Secretary to the India Office
The Military Secretary to the India Office was responsible for the recruitment of British and other European nationals to the officer ranks of the Indian Army.-Military Secretaries to the India Office:The Military Secretaries were as follows:...
in 1837.
Their fifth son, Henry
Henry Melvill
The Revd. Henry Melvill was a priest in the Church of England and principal of the East India Company College from 1844-1858. Afterwards, he served as Canon of St Paul's Cathedral.-Early years:...
(1798–1871), was a Church of England clergyman, who became principal of the East India Company College
East India Company College
The East India College was a college in Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in February 1806 as the training establishment for the British East India Company . At that time, the BEIC provided general and vocational education for young gentlemen of sixteen to eighteen years old,...
, Haileybury and then a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
residentiary of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
; he was also rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Barnes
Municipal Borough of Barnes
Barnes was a local government district in north west Surrey from 1894 to 1965.It was formed as an urban district in 1894 and became a municipal borough in 1932....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and a famous preacher..
Another son, Peter (1803 - 1895), became a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
and was military and naval secretary to the government of Bombay .
Philanthropy
In 1807, he founded the Falmouth Misericordia Society “for the relief of poor strangers and distressed persons of the town” . He also helped found a Church Girls' School in 1802 and a Boys' School in 1805 .Death and legacy
He died on 27 October 1811 at Pendennis Castle. Memoirs of him were published in 1812The Falmouth Misericordia Society was still in operation in 1887.
"Melvill Road", connecting the A39 road with Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Docks
Falmouth Docks are the docks of the town of Falmouth in Cornwall, England, UK.The docks are served by the Falmouth Docks railway station. Policing is by the Falmouth Docks Police.-Further reading:...
is named after him.