Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg
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- This article is about the Scottish politician. For the American football player, see Charles Grant.
Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg (26 October 1778 - 23 April 1866) was a Scottish politician and colonial administrator.
Early Years
He was born in India, the eldest son of Charles Grant, chairman of the directors of the British East India Company. He was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and became a fellow in 1802. He was called to the bar in 1807 and elected MP for Inverness. He was a lord of the treasury from December 1813 until August 1819, when he became Chief Secretary for Ireland and a privy councillor. In 1823 he was appointed Vice President of the Board of Trade; from September 1827 to June 1828 he was president of the board and treasurer of the navy.
As a Whig
Glenelg broke with the Tories over Reform and joined the Whigs. He was President of the Board of Control under Earl Grey and Lord Melbourne from November 1830 to November 1834. At the board of control Grant was primarily responsible for the act of 1833, which altered the constitution of the government of India. In April 1835 he became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, and was created Baron Glenelg. His term of office was a stormy one. His differences with Sir Benjamin D'Urban (qv.), governor of Cape Colony, were serious; but more so were those with King William IV, and others over the administration of Canada. He was still secretary when the Canadian rebellion broke out in 1837; his wavering and feeble policy was fiercely attacked in parliament; he became involved in disputes with the Earl of Durham, and the movement for his supercession found supporters even among his colleagues in the cabinet. In February 1839 he resigned. He has been called the last of the Canningites. His brother, Sir Robert Grant, was also an MP and later governor of Bombay.
Succession
| Preceded by: Robert Peel | Chief Secretary for Ireland 1818–1821 | Succeeded by: Henry Goulburn |
| Preceded by: The Lord Ellenborough | President of the Board of Control 1830–1834 | Succeeded by: The Lord Ellenborough |
| Preceded by: The Earl of Aberdeen | Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1835–1839 | Succeeded by: The Marquess of Normanby |