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{{Short description|Scottish politician, administrator and author (1829–1906)}}
{{for|the earlier Governor of Bombay|Mountstuart Elphinstone}}
{{for|the earlier Governor of Bombay|Mountstuart Elphinstone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix   = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff  
| name               = Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCSI|CIE|PC|FRS|size=100%}}
| honorific-suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCSI|CIE|FRS|size=100%}}
| image = Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff.jpg  
| image               = Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff.jpg
| order1 = [[Governor of Madras Presidency]]
| order1             = [[Governor of Madras Presidency]]
| term_start1 = 5 November 1881  
| term_start1         = 5 November 1881
| term_end1 = 8 December 1886
| term_end1           = 8 December 1886
| governor_general1 = [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|The Marquess of Ripon]],<br />[[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|The Earl of Dufferin]]
| governor_general1   = [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|The Marquess of Ripon]],<br/>[[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|The Earl of Dufferin]]
| predecessor1 = [[William Huddleston]] (acting)
| predecessor1       = [[William Huddleston (colonial administrator)|William Huddleston]] (acting)
| successor1 = [[Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara|Hon. Robert Bourke]]
| successor1         = [[Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara|Robert Bourke]]
| order2 = [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]]
| order2             = [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]]
| term_start2 = 23 April 1880
| term_start2         = 23 April 1880
| term_end2 = 26 June 1881
| term_end2           = 26 June 1881
| monarch2 = [[Queen Victoria]]
| monarch2           = [[Queen Victoria]]
| primeminister2 = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
| primeminister2     = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
| predecessor2 = [[George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan|The Earl Cadogan]]
| predecessor2       = [[George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan|The Earl Cadogan]]
| successor2 = [[Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith|Leonard Courtney]]
| successor2         = [[Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith|Leonard Courtney]]
| order3 = [[Under-Secretary of State for India]]
| order3             = [[Under-Secretary of State for India]]
| term_start3 = 8 December 1868
| term_start3         = 8 December 1868
| term_end3 = 17 February 1874
| term_end3           = 17 February 1874
| monarch3 = Queen Victoria
| monarch3           = Queen Victoria
| primeminister3 = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
| primeminister3     = [[William Ewart Gladstone]]
| predecessor3 = [[Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 20th Baron Clinton|The Lord Clinton]]
| predecessor3       = [[Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 20th Baron Clinton|The Lord Clinton]]
| successor3 = [[Lord George Hamilton]]
| successor3         = [[Lord George Hamilton]]
| constituency_MP4 = [[Elgin Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Elgin Burghs]]
| constituency_MP4   = [[Elgin Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Elgin Burghs]]
| term_start4     = 1857
| term_start4         = 1857
| term_end4       = 1881
| term_end4           = 1881
| predecessor4     = [[George Skene Duff]]
| predecessor4       = [[George Skene Duff]]
| successor4       = [[Alexander Asher]]
| successor4         = [[Alexander Asher]]
| monarch4 = Victoria
| monarch4           = Victoria
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1829|2|21|df=y}}  
| birth_name          = Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff
| birth_place = Eden, [[Aberdeenshire]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1829|2|21|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1906|1|12|1829|2|21|df=y}}  
| birth_place         = Eden, [[Aberdeenshire]], Scotland
| death_place = [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], London
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1906|1|12|1829|2|21|df=y}}
| nationality = [[British people|British]]
| death_place         = [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], London, England
| party = [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| nationality         = Scottish
| alma_mater = [[Balliol College, Oxford]]
| party               = [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]
| spouse = Anna Julia Webster
| alma_mater         = [[Balliol College, Oxford]]
| children = 8, including [[Claire Annabel Caroline Grant Duff|Claire Grant Duff]]
| spouse             = Anna Julia Webster
| parents = [[James Grant Duff]]<br />Jane Ainslie
| children           = 8, including [[Claire Annabel Caroline Grant Duff|Claire Grant Duff]]
| parents             = [[James Grant Duff]]<br/>Jane Ainslie
}}
}}
'''Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCSI|CIE|PC|FRS}} (21 February 1829 – 12 January 1906), known as '''M. E. Grant Duff''' before 1887 and as '''Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff''' thereafter, was a [[Scotland|Scottish]] politician, administrator and author. He served as the [[Under-Secretary of State for India]] from 1868 to 1874, [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] from 1880 to 1881 and the [[Governor of Madras]] from 1881 to 1886.
'''Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCSI|CIE|PC|FRS|sep=,|size=100}} (21 February 1829 – 12 January 1906), known as '''M.&nbsp;E. Grant Duff''' before 1887 and as '''Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff''' thereafter, was a Scottish politician, administrator and author. He served as the [[Under-Secretary of State for India|under-secretary of state for India]] from 1868 to 1874, [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies|under-secretary of state for the colonies]] from 1880 to 1881 and the [[governor of Madras]] from 1881 to 1886.


He was born in Eden, Aberdeenshire, on 21 February 1829 to the distinguished British historian [[James Grant Duff]]. He had his education at [[The Grange School, Sunderland|Grange School]] and [[Balliol College, Oxford]] and graduated in law from the [[Inns of Court]]. He practised and taught law for a short time before starting a political life and entering the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] as the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] Member of Parliament for [[Elgin Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Elgin Burghs]].
The son of the distinguished British historian [[James Grant Duff]], he was educated at [[The Grange School, Sunderland|Grange School]] and [[Balliol College, Oxford]], before being called to the English bar. He practised and taught law for a short time before starting a political life and entering the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] as the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] Member of Parliament for [[Elgin Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Elgin Burghs]].


His abilities won him government positions and he was [[Under-Secretary of State for India]], [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] and [[Governor of Madras]]. On his return from Madras, he retired from politics and served in various art and scientific societies.
His abilities won him government positions and he was [[Under-Secretary of State for India]], [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] and [[Governor of Madras]]. His performance in politics and administration has received mixed reviews during the 1880s: "a politician of brilliant promise and scant performance, of wide information which he seemed to turn to much account, of abilities which would have made the fortunes of half a dozen men and of which he made little enough."<ref>J McCarthy, England, (2009), Bibliobooks reprint</ref>


He travelled extensively and wrote voluminously. His performance in politics and administration has received mixed reviews during the 1880s
On his return from Madras, he retired from politics and served in various art and scientific societies, before his death in 1906.
 
<blockquote>a politician of brilliant promise and scant performance, of wide information which he seemed to turn to much account, of abilities which would have made the fortunes of half a dozen men and of which he made little enough.<ref>J McCarthy, England, (2009), Bibliobooks reprint</ref></blockquote>
 
He was made a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire]] and a [[Order of the Star of India|Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]. He died on 12 January 1906 at the age of 76.


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
He was born in Eden, [[Banff, Banffshire]] on 21 February 1829, the elder son of [[James Grant Duff]], a well known [[India]]n official from [[Bombay Presidency]] and British Resident in the princely state of [[Satara State|Satara]], and his wife Jane Catherine, daughter of Sir [[Whitelaw Ainslie]].<ref name="dnbp150">{{cite DNB12|wstitle=Grant Duff, Mountstuart Elphinstone|volume=2|ISBN=978-1-4021-7063-8 |pages=150–151}}</ref> He was named after [[Mountstuart Elphinstone]] whom James Grant Duff regarded as his mentor. He had his schooling at [[Edinburgh Academy]] and [[The Grange School, Sunderland|Grange School]] and at [[Balliol College, Oxford]] from 1847 to 1850.<ref name="dnbp150" /> He completed his master's degree in 1853.<ref name="dnbp150" /> During these years he experienced problems with his vision, and for the rest of his life he relied on the sight of others.
Duff was born in Eden, [[Banff, Banffshire]] on 21 February 1829, the elder son of [[James Grant Duff]], an East India Company army officer who administered the princely state of [[Satara State|Satara]] [[Bombay Presidency]], and his wife Jane Catherine, daughter of Sir [[Whitelaw Ainslie]].<ref name="dnbp150">{{cite DNB12|wstitle=Grant Duff, Mountstuart Elphinstone|volume=2|ISBN=978-1-4021-7063-8 |pages=150–151}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Middleton |first=Alex |date=2025 |title=M. E. Grant Duff, Philosophic Liberalism and the Global Liberal Cause |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-229X.70061 |journal=History |language=en |doi=10.1111/1468-229X.70061 |issn=1468-229X|doi-access=free }}</ref> He was named after [[Mountstuart Elphinstone]], a governor of Bombay.<ref name=":0" /> He had his schooling at [[Edinburgh Academy]] and [[The Grange School, Sunderland|Grange School]] and at [[Balliol College, Oxford]], from 1847 to 1850.<ref name="dnbp150"/> He became a MA in 1853.<ref name="dnbp150"/> During these years he experienced problems with his vision, and for the rest of his life he relied on the sight of others.


He studied law at the [[Inns of Court]] and passed with honours, appearing next to [[James Fitzjames Stephen]].<ref name="dnbp150" /> He was called to the bar at [[Inner Temple]], London on 17 November 1854<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/1776435  George Taubman Goldie, "Right Hon. Sir Mountstuart E. Grant Duff, P. C., G. C. S. I., F. R. S.", ''The Geographical Journal,'' Vol. 27, No. 3 (Mar., 1906), pp. 306-308]</ref> and practised as a junior under William Ventris Field.<ref name="dnbp150" /> During this time he lectured at the Working Men's College and wrote for the ''Saturday Review''.<ref name="dnbp150" /> Soon afterwards, he entered politics and joined the Liberal Party.
He studied law at the [[Inns of Court]] and passed with honours, ranked only behind [[James Fitzjames Stephen]].<ref name="dnbp150"/> He was called to the bar at [[Inner Temple]], London on 17 November 1854<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/1776435  George Taubman Goldie, "Right Hon. Sir Mountstuart E. Grant Duff, P. C., G. C. S. I., F. R. S.", ''The Geographical Journal,'' Vol. 27, No. 3 (Mar., 1906), pp. 306-308]</ref> and practised as a junior under [[William Field, 1st Baron Field|William (later Mr Justice) Field]].<ref name="dnbp150"/> During this time he lectured at the Working Men's College and wrote for the ''Saturday Review''.<ref name="dnbp150"/> Soon afterwards, he entered politics and joined the Liberal Party.


==Political career==
==Political career==
In the 1857 election he was elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] as the Liberal Party's candidate for [[Elgin Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Elgin Burghs]].  He was a member of the House of Commons from 1857 to 1881.<ref name="dnbp150" /> As a parliamentarian, he took up the cause of education in his constituency and gave regular annual speeches on foreign policy.  In order to make these speeches as informative and realistic, he took trips abroad to study the situation in foreign countries.<ref name="dnbp150" /> In 1879, he met with [[Karl Marx]] and remarked "Altogether my impression of Marx, allowing for his being at the opposite pole of opinion from oneself, was not at all unfavourable and I would gladly meet him again."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/bio/media/marx/79_01_31.htm|title=Letter to Princess Victoria on Marx (1879)|website=marxists.org|access-date=2018-05-05}}</ref>
In the 1857 election he was elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] as the Liberal Party's candidate for [[Elgin Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Elgin Burghs]], holding the seat without interruption until 1881.<ref name="dnbp150"/> He was returned unopposed at every election except in 1880, when he easily defeated a Conservative candidate. Every year from 1860, Stuart delivered an elaborate speech to his constituents, many of which were collected and reprinted, often on foreign affairs.
 
As an MP, Duff was mainly concerned with foreign policy, a subject on which he became known as an authority. He travelled widely, wrote extensively, and met with many of Europe's leading personalities. In 1866, he was elected rector of the University of Aberdeen, holding the post until 1872.


== Government positions ==
In 1868, [[William Ewart Gladstone]] appointed Duff [[Under-Secretary of State for India]] under the Duke of Argyll.<ref name="dilkep385">{{cite book|title=The Life of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke, Volume 1|publisher=BiblioBazaar, LLC|author=Stephen Lucius Gwynn|year=2009|isbn=978-0-559-13101-1 |page=385}}</ref> Duff held the office until the government was defeated in 1874. He worked well with the secretary of state Argyll; their relationship was described by Duthie as 'rather deliberately obedient to Argyll; and always in agreement with him on policy'.
His proficiency and expertise on foreign issues won him positions in the foreign ministry. [[Sir Charles W. Dilke]] declined the role of [[Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]] and suggested to [[Prime Minister]] [[William Ewart Gladstone]] that Grant Duff be appointed.<ref name="dilkep385">{{cite book|title=The Life of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke, Volume 1|publisher=BiblioBazaar, LLC|author=Stephen Lucius Gwynn|year=2009|isbn=978-0-559-13101-1 |pages=385}}</ref> Gladstone refused but appointed Grant Duff as [[Under-Secretary of State for India]] on 8 December 1868.,<ref name="dnbp150" /> a position he filled until 1874 when the Liberal Party government of Gladstone resigned. He worked well with the Secretary of State Argyll; their relationship was described by Duthie as 'rather deliberately obedient to Argyll; and always in agreement with him on policy'. During Grant Duff's tenure, the [[Kuka insurrection]] broke out in India.<ref name="rebels">{{cite book|title=Rebels against the British rule|pages=416–417|authors=Bhai Nahar Singh, Bhai Kirpal Singh|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|year=1995|isbn=978-81-7156-164-3}}</ref> The massacre of 50 rebelling Kukas sparked outrage in Parliament and Grant Duff was compelled to accept responsibility.<ref name="rebels" />


When Gladstone was voted back to power in 1880, Grant Duff was appointed [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]].<ref name="dilkep385" /> He served till 26 June 1881, when he was appointed [[Governor of Madras]].<ref name="dnbp150" /><ref name="nytimes_appointment">{{cite news|title=Affairs in Foreign Lands|date=13 April 1880|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1880/04/14/98895428.pdf|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> During this time, he also served on [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council]].<ref name="dnbp150" />
When Gladstone came back to power in 1880, Grant Duff was appointed [[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] and sworn of the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]].<ref name="dnbp150"/><ref name="dilkep385"/> He served until 26 June 1881, when he was appointed [[Governor of Madras]].<ref name="dnbp150"/><ref name="nytimes_appointment">{{cite news|title=Affairs in Foreign Lands|date=13 April 1880|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1880/04/14/98895428.pdf|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>


== Governor of Madras ==
== Governor of Madras ==
He was captivated by the beach at [[Madras]] on an earlier visit to the city.<ref name="beach_thehindu">{{cite news|title=the second longest beach|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/21/stories/2002082100220300.htm|author=S. Muthiah|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 August 2002|access-date=12 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819014536/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/21/stories/2002082100220300.htm|archive-date=19 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tercentenary">{{cite book | title=Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee Commemoration Volume| last=Tercentenary Madras Staff| year=1939| publisher=Indian Branch, Oxford Press|pages=271–273}}</ref> As a result, when he became governor in 1881 he immediately commenced the construction of a promenade along the beach.<ref name="beach_thehindu" /> The beach was extensively modified and layered with soft sand and was named "[[Marina beach|The Marina]]".<ref name="beach_thehindu" /> The promenade was opened to the public in 1884.<ref name="beach_thehindu" />
He was captivated by the beach at [[Madras]] on an earlier visit to the city.<ref name="beach_thehindu">{{cite news|title=the second longest beach|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/21/stories/2002082100220300.htm|author=S. Muthiah|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 August 2002|access-date=12 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819014536/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/21/stories/2002082100220300.htm|archive-date=19 August 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="tercentenary">{{cite book | title=Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee Commemoration Volume| last=Tercentenary Madras Staff| year=1939| publisher=Indian Branch, Oxford Press|pages=271–273}}</ref> As a result, when he became governor in 1881 he immediately commenced the construction of a promenade along the beach.<ref name="beach_thehindu"/> The beach was extensively modified and layered with soft sand and was named "[[Marina beach|The Marina]]".<ref name="beach_thehindu"/> The promenade was opened to the public in 1884.<ref name="beach_thehindu"/>


On the naming of the beach, Grant Duff explained in a letter:
On the naming of the beach, Grant Duff explained in a letter:


{{Quotation|We have greatly benefitted Madras by turning the rather dismal beach of five years ago into one of the most beautiful promenades in the world. From old Sicilian recollections, I gave in 1884 to our new creation the name of Marina; and I was not a little amused when walking there last winter with the Italian General Saletta, he suddenly said to me 'On se dirai a Palerme'.<ref name="tercentenary" />}}
{{Quotation|We have greatly benefitted Madras by turning the rather dismal beach of five years ago into one of the most beautiful promenades in the world. From old Sicilian recollections, I gave in 1884 to our new creation the name of Marina; and I was not a little amused when walking there last winter with the Italian General Saletta, he suddenly said to me 'On se dirai a Palerme'.<ref name="tercentenary"/>}}


In 1864, several specimens of a yellow flowering ''[[Iris (plant)|Iris]]'' were collected by Mr. B. T. Lowne on the banks of the river [[Kishon River|Kishon]] in [[Israel]]. It was later found by Grant Duff on the plains of Esdraelon ([[Jezreel Valley]]).<ref name=israelflowers>{{cite web |title=Iris grant-duffii, Iris melanosticta |url=http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Irisgrant-duffii_page.htm |publisher=flowersinisrael.com |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=signa>{{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |date=6 September 2004 |title=Iris grant-duffii  |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-grant-duffii |publisher=signa.org |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref> The iris was then named after him, ''[[Iris grant-duffii]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Herbert |last=Maxwell |title=Memories of the months, being pages from the notebook of a field-naturalist and antiquary (Volume 1) online |page=114 |url=http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/herbert-maxwell/memories-of-the-months-being-pages-from-the-notebook-of-a-field-naturalist-and--hci-989/page-6-memories-of-the-months-being-pages-from-the-notebook-of-a-field-naturalist-and--hci-989.shtml |publisher=ebooksread.com |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref>
In 1864, several specimens of a yellow flowering ''[[Iris (plant)|iris]]'' were collected by Mr. B. T. Lowne on the banks of the river [[Kishon River|Kishon]] in [[Israel]]. It was later found by Grant Duff on the plains of Esdraelon ([[Jezreel Valley]]).<ref name=israelflowers>{{cite web |title=Iris grant-duffii, Iris melanosticta |url=http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Irisgrant-duffii_page.htm |publisher=flowersinisrael.com |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=signa>{{cite web |first=D. |last=Kramb |date=6 September 2004 |title=Iris grant-duffii  |url=http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Iris-grant-duffii |publisher=signa.org |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref> The iris was then named after him, ''[[Iris grant-duffii]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Herbert |last=Maxwell |title=Memories of the months, being pages from the notebook of a field-naturalist and antiquary (Volume 1) online |page=114 |url=http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/herbert-maxwell/memories-of-the-months-being-pages-from-the-notebook-of-a-field-naturalist-and--hci-989/page-6-memories-of-the-months-being-pages-from-the-notebook-of-a-field-naturalist-and--hci-989.shtml |publisher=ebooksread.com |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref>


He was a strong supporter of [[Dietrich Brandis]] in his reorganization of the [[Tamil Nadu Forest Department|Madras Forest Department]] and expansion of [[Sustainable forest management|systematic forest]] [[Conservation (ethic)|conservancy]] in India.<ref name="IF">
He was a strong supporter of [[Dietrich Brandis]] in his reorganization of the [[Madras Forest Department]] and expansion of [[Sustainable forest management|systematic forest]] [[Nature conservation|conservancy]] in India.<ref name="IF">
{{cite book
{{cite book
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His tenure was filled with a number of controversies and allegations of partisan behaviour and injustice. He was sharply criticized for the way he handled the [[Chingleput Ryots' Case]] and the arrests and trials following the [[Salem Riots of 1882]]. ''[[The Hindu]]'' accused him of indulging in vindictive and vengeful behaviour. In one of the articles, he was criticized thus:
His tenure was filled with a number of controversies and allegations of partisan behaviour and injustice. He was sharply criticised for the way he handled the [[Chingleput Ryots' Case]] and the arrests and trials following the [[Salem riots of 1882]]. ''[[The Hindu]]'' accused him of indulging in vindictive and vengeful behaviour. In one of the articles, he was criticised thus: "Oh! Lucifer! How art thou fallen? Oh! Mr Grant-Duff, how you stand like an extinct volcano in the midst of the ruins of your abortive reputation as an administrator! Erudite you may be, but a statesman you are not."<ref name="thehindu_willingtostrike">{{cite news|title=WILLING TO STRIKE AND NOT RELUCTANT TO WOUND |url=http://www.hindu.com/th125/stories/2003091300770200.htm |date=13 September 2003 |author=S. Muthiah |work=[[The Hindu]] |author-link=S. Muthiah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107181430/http://www.hindu.com/th125/stories/2003091300770200.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012 }}</ref> He was also accused of deliberately nurturing a movement against [[Brahmins]].<ref name="southindiap239">{{cite book|title=Dialogue and history: constructing South India, 1795-1895|page=239|author=Eugène F. Irschick|publisher=University of California Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0-520-08405-6}}</ref>
 
{{Quotation|Oh! Lucifer! How art thou fallen? Oh! Mr Grant-Duff, how you stand like an extinct volcano in the midst of the ruins of your abortive reputation as an administrator! Erudite you may be, but a statesman you are not.<ref name="thehindu_willingtostrike">{{cite news|title=WILLING TO STRIKE AND NOT RELUCTANT TO WOUND |url=http://www.hindu.com/th125/stories/2003091300770200.htm |date=13 September 2003 |author=S. Muthiah |work=[[The Hindu]] |author-link=S. Muthiah |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107181430/http://www.hindu.com/th125/stories/2003091300770200.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012 }}</ref>}}
 
He was also accused of deliberately nurturing a movement against [[Brahmins]].<ref name="southindiap239">{{cite book|title=Dialogue and history: constructing South India, 1795-1895|pages=239|author=Eugène F. Irschick|publisher=University of California Press|year=1994|isbn=978-0-520-08405-6}}</ref>
 
However, [[Louis Mallet]], the then Under-Secretary of State for India, was all praise for him. On receipt of his last minute as governor, Mallett said


{{Quotation|I doubt whether any governor has left behind so able and so complete a record<ref name="dnbp150" />}}
However, [[Louis Mallet]], the then Under-Secretary of State for India, was all praise for him. On receipt of his last minute as governor, Mallett said, "I doubt whether any governor has left behind so able and so complete a record".<ref name="dnbp150"/>


[[Wilfrid Scawen Blunt|W. S. Blunt]], the British publicist, who visited Madras in November 1884, said of Grant Duff:
[[Wilfrid Scawen Blunt|W. S. Blunt]], the British publicist, who visited Madras in November 1884, said of Grant Duff:


{{Quotation|"And Mr. Grant Duff?", I asked a friend. "We consider him, he said "a failure. He came out as Governor of Madras with great expectations, and we find him feeble, sickly, unable to do his work himself, and wholly in the hands of the permanent officials. The Duke of Buckingham, of whom we expected less, did much more, and much better. "...I found this opinion of Grant Duff a general one among the natives. Though a clever man, he had spent all his life in the confined atmosphere of the House of Commons, and was quite unable to deal with a state of society so strange to him as that which he found in India<ref name="tercentenary" />}}
{{Quotation|"And Mr. Grant Duff?", I asked a friend. "We consider him", he said "a failure. He came out as Governor of Madras with great expectations, and we find him feeble, sickly, unable to do his work himself, and wholly in the hands of the permanent officials. The Duke of Buckingham, of whom we expected less, did much more, and much better." I found this opinion of Grant Duff a general one among the natives. Though a clever man, he had spent all his life in the confined atmosphere of the House of Commons, and was quite unable to deal with a state of society so strange to him as that which he found in India<ref name="tercentenary"/>}}


The [[Madras Mahajana Sabha]] was established in 1884 with [[P. Rangaiah Naidu]] as its president and [[R. Balaji Rao]] as its vice-president.<ref name="vocp1516">{{cite book|title=V.O. Chidambaram Pillai: Builders of modern India|url=https://archive.org/details/vochidambarampil00samp|pages=[https://archive.org/details/vochidambarampil00samp/page/15 15–16]|authors=R. N. Sampath, Pe. Cu Maṇi|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India|year=1992}}</ref> This is considered to be one of the oldest Indian political organisations in the [[Madras Presidency]], notwithstanding the [[Madras Native Association]], which was a failure. Members of the Madras Mahajana Sabha played a pivotal role in corresponding with Indian associations in other provinces and forming the [[Indian National Congress]] in 1885. The Indian National Congress held its first session at [[Bombay]] in December 1885, attended by 72 delegates including 22 from the Madras Presidency. Grant Duff was made a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire]] in 1881 and a [[Order of the Star of India|Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] in March 1887. In July 1886, Gladstone tried to get a [[peerage]] for him but failed.
The [[Madras Mahajana Sabha]] was established in 1884 with [[P. Rangaiah Naidu]] as its president and [[R. Balaji Rao]] as its vice-president.<ref name="vocp1516">{{cite book|title=V.O. Chidambaram Pillai: Builders of modern India|url=https://archive.org/details/vochidambarampil00samp|pages=[https://archive.org/details/vochidambarampil00samp/page/15 15–16]|author=R. N. Sampath |author2=Pe. Cu Maṇi |publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India|year=1992}}</ref> This is considered to be one of the oldest Indian political organisations in the [[Madras Presidency]], notwithstanding the [[Madras Native Association]], which was a failure. Members of the Madras Mahajana Sabha played a pivotal role in corresponding with Indian associations in other provinces and forming the [[Indian National Congress]] in 1885. The Indian National Congress held its first session at [[Bombay]] in December 1885, attended by 72 delegates including 22 from the Madras Presidency. Grant Duff was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire]] in 1881 and a [[Order of the Star of India|Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] in March 1887. In July 1886, Gladstone tried to get a [[peerage]] for him but failed.


On an official visit to [[Rome]] a few years after the conclusion of his tenure, Grant Duff records that the Speaker of the [[Italian Parliament]] [[Biancheri (Italian Parliament)|Biancheri]] inquired about the size of the province that Grant Duff had governed.<ref name="thurstomp7">{{cite book|title=Provincial Geographies of India:The Madras Presidency with Mysore, Coorg and Associated States|last=Thurston|first=Edgar|author-link=Edgar Thurston|publisher=Cambridge University|year=1913|pages=7}}</ref> On receiving the reply that the province was 'larger than Italy, including all the Italian islands', Biancheri astonishedly asked "What an empire is that, in which such a country is only a province?".<ref name="thurstomp7" />
On an official visit to [[Rome]] a few years after the conclusion of his tenure, Grant Duff records that the Speaker of the [[Italian Parliament]] [[Biancheri (Italian Parliament)|Biancheri]] inquired about the size of the province that Grant Duff had governed.<ref name="thurstomp7">{{cite book|title=Provincial Geographies of India: The Madras Presidency with Mysore, Coorg and Associated States|last=Thurston|first=Edgar|author-link=Edgar Thurston|publisher=Cambridge University|year=1913|page=7}}</ref> On receiving the reply that the province was 'larger than Italy, including all the Italian islands', Biancheri astonishedly asked "What an empire is that, in which such a country is only a province?".<ref name="thurstomp7"/>


==Later life==
==Later life==
On his return to England in 1887, he devoted himself to the arts and sciences. He was Lord Rector of [[University of Aberdeen]] in 1866–1872. He was member of the ''Athenaeum'', the [[Cosmopolitan Club (London)|Cosmopolitan Club]], Literary Society, Grillion's Club, Breakfast Club and was the president of the [[Royal Geographical Society]] from 1889 to 1893 and of the [[Royal Historical Society]] from 1892 to 1899.<ref name="dnbp150" /> He was treasurer of the exclusive dining club known as [[The Club (dining club)|The Club]] from 1893.<ref name="dnbp150" /> He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1881, and was appointed a trustee of the [[British Museum]] in 1903.<ref name="dnbp150" />
On his return to England in 1887, he devoted himself to the arts and sciences. He was Lord Rector of [[University of Aberdeen]] in 1866–1872. He was member of the ''Athenaeum'', the [[Cosmopolitan Club (London)|Cosmopolitan Club]], Literary Society, Grillion's Club, Breakfast Club, and the [[Roxburghe Club]], and was the president of the [[Royal Geographical Society]] from 1889 to 1893 and of the [[Royal Historical Society]] from 1892 to 1899.<ref name="dnbp150"/> He was treasurer of the exclusive dining club known as [[The Club (dining club)|The Club]] from 1893.<ref name="dnbp150"/> He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1881, and was appointed a trustee of the [[British Museum]] in 1903.<ref name="dnbp150"/>


He was Chairman of the Liberty and Property Defence League, established to curb socialist tendencies in the Liberal Party.
He was Chairman of the Liberty and Property Defence League, established to curb socialist tendencies in the Liberal Party.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
In April 1859 he married Anna Julia Webster; they had four sons and four daughters. Their eldest daughter was [[Claire Annabel Caroline Grant Duff|Clare Annabel Caroline]], wife of the financier [[Frederick Huth Jackson]], whilst their third son, [[Adrian Grant-Duff]],<ref>H. C. G. Matthew, 'Duff, Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant- (1829–1906)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004</ref> colonel of the Black Watch, was killed at the [[First Battle of the Aisne]] in September 1914. Adrian's daughter was [[Shiela Grant Duff]] while his son, Neill, was killed at Houdetot near St Valery-en-Caux France in 1940 whilst serving with the Black Watch.
In April 1859 he married Anna Julia Webster; they had four sons and four daughters, including:
* [[Annabel Huth Jackson|Clare Annabel Caroline]] (1870–1944), wife of the financier [[Frederick Huth Jackson]].
*Evelyn Mountstuart Grant Duff, who married in March 1903 Edith Florence Bonham, daughter of [[George Francis Bonham|Sir George Francis Bonham, 2nd Baronet]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Marriages|date=30 March 1900 |page=1 |issue=36103}}</ref>
* Lieutenant-Colonel [[Adrian Grant-Duff]], CB (1869–1914),<ref>H. C. G. Matthew, 'Duff, Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant- (1829–1906)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004</ref> colonel of the Black Watch, was killed at the [[First Battle of the Aisne]] in September 1914. Adrian's daughter was [[Shiela Grant Duff]] while his son, Neill, was killed at Houdetot near St Valery-en-Caux France in 1940 whilst serving with the Black Watch.
 
He died in his home in Chelsea, London in January 1906, aged 76,<ref name="obituary_nytimes">{{cite news|title=Sir Grant Duff dead|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/13/101762570.pdf|date=12 January 1906|work=The New York Times}}</ref> and was buried in Elgin Cathedral, Scotland.
He died in his home in Chelsea, London in January 1906, aged 76,<ref name="obituary_nytimes">{{cite news|title=Sir Grant Duff dead|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/13/101762570.pdf|date=12 January 1906|work=The New York Times}}</ref> and was buried in Elgin Cathedral, Scotland.
{{wikisource|Author:Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|Works of Grant Duff}}
== Works ==
* {{cite book|title=Studies in European Politics|url=https://archive.org/details/studiesineurope01duffgoog|publisher=Edmonston and Douglas|year=1866|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff}} ([[iarchive:studiesineuropea00granrich|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title= Elgin Speeches|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|publisher=1871}} ([[iarchive:elginspeeches00granuoft|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title=Notes of an Indian journey|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.282504|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|year=1876|publisher=[[Macmillan and Company]]}} ([[iarchive:notesofindianjou00gran|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title=[[Ernest Renan]]: In memoriam|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|year=1893|publisher=Macmillan and Company}} ([[iarchive:ernestrenaninmem00granuoft|Scan]])
* ''Notes from a diary''. London: John Murray. - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary25duffgoog|(1851-1872):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromdiary1802granuoft|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary05duffgoog|(1873-1881):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary29duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary20duffgoog|(1881-1886):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary21duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary09duffgoog|(1886-1888):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary12duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary04duffgoog|(1889-1891):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary08duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary32duffgoog|(1892-1895):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary06duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromdiary01gran|(1896-1901):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromdiary02gran|2]] 
* {{cite book|title=A Political Survey|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924023000999|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff}} ([[iarchive:politicalsurvey00gran|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title=Out of the past. Some biographical essays.|url=https://archive.org/details/outpastsomebiog00duffgoog|year=1903|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff}} [[iarchive:outpastsomebiog01duffgoog|volume 1]] [[iarchive:outpastsomebiog02duffgoog|volume 2]]


== Ancestry ==
== Ancestry ==
Line 170: Line 155:
| 31= Janet Hamilton of Preston  
| 31= Janet Hamilton of Preston  
}}
}}
== Works ==
* {{cite book|title=Studies in European Politics|url=https://archive.org/details/studiesineurope01duffgoog|publisher=Edmonston and Douglas|year=1866|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff}} ([[iarchive:studiesineuropea00granrich|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title= Elgin Speeches|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|publisher=1871}} ([[iarchive:elginspeeches00granuoft|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title=Notes of an Indian journey|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.282504|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|year=1876|publisher=[[Macmillan and Company]]}} ([[iarchive:notesofindianjou00gran|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title=[[Ernest Renan]]: In memoriam|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|year=1893|publisher=Macmillan and Company}} ([[iarchive:ernestrenaninmem00granuoft|Scan]])
* ''Notes from a diary''. London: John Murray. - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary25duffgoog|(1851-1872):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromdiary1802granuoft|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary05duffgoog|(1873-1881):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary29duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary20duffgoog|(1881-1886):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary21duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary09duffgoog|(1886-1888):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary12duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary04duffgoog|(1889-1891):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary08duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromadiary32duffgoog|(1892-1895):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromadiary06duffgoog|2]] - [[iarchive:notesfromdiary01gran|(1896-1901):1]] [[iarchive:notesfromdiary02gran|2]] 
* {{cite book|title=A Political Survey|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924023000999|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|date=1868 }} ([[iarchive:politicalsurvey00gran|Scan]])
* {{cite book|title=Out of the past. Some biographical essays.|url=https://archive.org/details/outpastsomebiog00duffgoog|year=1903|author=Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff}} [[iarchive:outpastsomebiog01duffgoog|volume 1]] [[iarchive:outpastsomebiog02duffgoog|volume 2]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{wikisource|The Times/1906/Obituary/Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff|Obituary from ''The Times'' (transcript)}}


== References ==
== References ==
*{{cite book|title=Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|work=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101033518/}}
*{{cite book|title=Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|work=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101033518/}}
*{{cite book | first=Anne | last=Fremantle | title=Three-Cornered Heart | url=https://archive.org/details/threecorneredhea00frem | url-access=registration | place=London | date=1971 }}
*{{cite book |first=Anne |last=Fremantle |title=Three-Cornered Heart |url=https://archive.org/details/threecorneredhea00frem |url-access=registration |place=London |date=1971|isbn=978-0-670-70696-9 }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{wikisource|Author:Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff|Works of Grant Duff}}
{{wikisource|The Times/1906/Obituary/Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff|Obituary from ''The Times'' (transcript)}}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-mountstuart-duff | M. E. Grant Duff }}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-mountstuart-duff | M. E. Grant Duff }}
*{{UK National Archives ID}}
* {{UK National Archives ID}}


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{{succession box | title=[[Under-Secretary of State for India]] | before=[[Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 20th Baron Clinton|The Lord Clinton]] | after=[[Lord George Hamilton]] | years=1868–1874}}
{{succession box | title=[[Under-Secretary of State for India]] | before=[[Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 20th Baron Clinton|The Lord Clinton]] | after=[[Lord George Hamilton]] | years=1868–1874}}
{{succession box | title=[[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] | before=[[George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan|The Earl Cadogan]] | after=[[Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith|Leonard Courtney]] | years=1880–1881}}
{{succession box | title=[[Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies]] | before=[[George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan|The Earl Cadogan]] | after=[[Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith|Leonard Courtney]] | years=1880–1881}}
{{succession box|title=[[Governor of Madras]]|years=1881–1886|before=[[William Huddleston]]|after=[[Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara|Robert Bourke]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Governor of Madras]]|years=1881–1886|before=[[William Huddleston (colonial administrator)|William Huddleston]]|after=[[Robert Bourke, 1st Baron Connemara|Robert Bourke]]}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box|title=[[Rector of the University of Aberdeen]]|before=[[John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|The Earl Russell]]|after=[[Thomas Henry Huxley]]|years=1866–1872}}
{{succession box|title=[[Rector of the University of Aberdeen]]|before=[[John Russell, 1st Earl Russell|The Earl Russell]]|after=[[Thomas Henry Huxley]]|years=1866–1872}}
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[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:British fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1857–1859]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1857–1859]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1859–1865]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1859–1865]]

Latest revision as of 18:03, 11 January 2026


For the earlier Governor of Bombay, see Mountstuart Elphinstone.

The Right Honourable
Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff
GCSI CIE FRS
Governor of Madras Presidency
In office
5 November 1881 – 8 December 1886
Governor GeneralThe Marquess of Ripon,
The Earl of Dufferin
Preceded byWilliam Huddleston (acting)
Succeeded byRobert Bourke
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
In office
23 April 1880 – 26 June 1881
MonarchQueen Victoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded byThe Earl Cadogan
Succeeded byLeonard Courtney
Under-Secretary of State for India
In office
8 December 1868 – 17 February 1874
MonarchQueen Victoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded byThe Lord Clinton
Succeeded byLord George Hamilton
Member of Parliament
for Elgin Burghs
In office
1857–1881
MonarchVictoria
Preceded byGeorge Skene Duff
Succeeded byAlexander Asher
Personal details
Born
Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff

(1829-02-21)21 February 1829
Eden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Died12 January 1906(1906-01-12) (aged 76)
Chelsea, London, England
NationalityScottish
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Anna Julia Webster
Children8, including Claire Grant Duff
Parent(s)James Grant Duff
Jane Ainslie
Alma materBalliol College, Oxford

Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff GCSI, CIE, PC, FRS (21 February 1829 – 12 January 1906), known as M. E. Grant Duff before 1887 and as Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff thereafter, was a Scottish politician, administrator and author. He served as the under-secretary of state for India from 1868 to 1874, under-secretary of state for the colonies from 1880 to 1881 and the governor of Madras from 1881 to 1886.

The son of the distinguished British historian James Grant Duff, he was educated at Grange School and Balliol College, Oxford, before being called to the English bar. He practised and taught law for a short time before starting a political life and entering the House of Commons as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs.

His abilities won him government positions and he was Under-Secretary of State for India, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies and Governor of Madras. His performance in politics and administration has received mixed reviews during the 1880s: "a politician of brilliant promise and scant performance, of wide information which he seemed to turn to much account, of abilities which would have made the fortunes of half a dozen men and of which he made little enough."[1]

On his return from Madras, he retired from politics and served in various art and scientific societies, before his death in 1906.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Duff was born in Eden, Banff, Banffshire on 21 February 1829, the elder son of James Grant Duff, an East India Company army officer who administered the princely state of Satara Bombay Presidency, and his wife Jane Catherine, daughter of Sir Whitelaw Ainslie.[2][3] He was named after Mountstuart Elphinstone, a governor of Bombay.[3] He had his schooling at Edinburgh Academy and Grange School and at Balliol College, Oxford, from 1847 to 1850.[2] He became a MA in 1853.[2] During these years he experienced problems with his vision, and for the rest of his life he relied on the sight of others.

He studied law at the Inns of Court and passed with honours, ranked only behind James Fitzjames Stephen.[2] He was called to the bar at Inner Temple, London on 17 November 1854[4] and practised as a junior under William (later Mr Justice) Field.[2] During this time he lectured at the Working Men's College and wrote for the Saturday Review.[2] Soon afterwards, he entered politics and joined the Liberal Party.

Political career[edit | edit source]

In the 1857 election he was elected to the House of Commons as the Liberal Party's candidate for Elgin Burghs, holding the seat without interruption until 1881.[2] He was returned unopposed at every election except in 1880, when he easily defeated a Conservative candidate. Every year from 1860, Stuart delivered an elaborate speech to his constituents, many of which were collected and reprinted, often on foreign affairs.

As an MP, Duff was mainly concerned with foreign policy, a subject on which he became known as an authority. He travelled widely, wrote extensively, and met with many of Europe's leading personalities. In 1866, he was elected rector of the University of Aberdeen, holding the post until 1872.

In 1868, William Ewart Gladstone appointed Duff Under-Secretary of State for India under the Duke of Argyll.[5] Duff held the office until the government was defeated in 1874. He worked well with the secretary of state Argyll; their relationship was described by Duthie as 'rather deliberately obedient to Argyll; and always in agreement with him on policy'.

When Gladstone came back to power in 1880, Grant Duff was appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies and sworn of the Privy Council.[2][5] He served until 26 June 1881, when he was appointed Governor of Madras.[2][6]

Governor of Madras[edit | edit source]

He was captivated by the beach at Madras on an earlier visit to the city.[7][8] As a result, when he became governor in 1881 he immediately commenced the construction of a promenade along the beach.[7] The beach was extensively modified and layered with soft sand and was named "The Marina".[7] The promenade was opened to the public in 1884.[7]

On the naming of the beach, Grant Duff explained in a letter:

We have greatly benefitted Madras by turning the rather dismal beach of five years ago into one of the most beautiful promenades in the world. From old Sicilian recollections, I gave in 1884 to our new creation the name of Marina; and I was not a little amused when walking there last winter with the Italian General Saletta, he suddenly said to me 'On se dirai a Palerme'.[8]

In 1864, several specimens of a yellow flowering iris were collected by Mr. B. T. Lowne on the banks of the river Kishon in Israel. It was later found by Grant Duff on the plains of Esdraelon (Jezreel Valley).[9][10] The iris was then named after him, Iris grant-duffii.[11]

He was a strong supporter of Dietrich Brandis in his reorganization of the Madras Forest Department and expansion of systematic forest conservancy in India.[12]

His tenure was filled with a number of controversies and allegations of partisan behaviour and injustice. He was sharply criticised for the way he handled the Chingleput Ryots' Case and the arrests and trials following the Salem riots of 1882. The Hindu accused him of indulging in vindictive and vengeful behaviour. In one of the articles, he was criticised thus: "Oh! Lucifer! How art thou fallen? Oh! Mr Grant-Duff, how you stand like an extinct volcano in the midst of the ruins of your abortive reputation as an administrator! Erudite you may be, but a statesman you are not."[13] He was also accused of deliberately nurturing a movement against Brahmins.[14]

However, Louis Mallet, the then Under-Secretary of State for India, was all praise for him. On receipt of his last minute as governor, Mallett said, "I doubt whether any governor has left behind so able and so complete a record".[2]

W. S. Blunt, the British publicist, who visited Madras in November 1884, said of Grant Duff:

"And Mr. Grant Duff?", I asked a friend. "We consider him", he said "a failure. He came out as Governor of Madras with great expectations, and we find him feeble, sickly, unable to do his work himself, and wholly in the hands of the permanent officials. The Duke of Buckingham, of whom we expected less, did much more, and much better." I found this opinion of Grant Duff a general one among the natives. Though a clever man, he had spent all his life in the confined atmosphere of the House of Commons, and was quite unable to deal with a state of society so strange to him as that which he found in India[8]

The Madras Mahajana Sabha was established in 1884 with P. Rangaiah Naidu as its president and R. Balaji Rao as its vice-president.[15] This is considered to be one of the oldest Indian political organisations in the Madras Presidency, notwithstanding the Madras Native Association, which was a failure. Members of the Madras Mahajana Sabha played a pivotal role in corresponding with Indian associations in other provinces and forming the Indian National Congress in 1885. The Indian National Congress held its first session at Bombay in December 1885, attended by 72 delegates including 22 from the Madras Presidency. Grant Duff was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1881 and a Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India in March 1887. In July 1886, Gladstone tried to get a peerage for him but failed.

On an official visit to Rome a few years after the conclusion of his tenure, Grant Duff records that the Speaker of the Italian Parliament Biancheri inquired about the size of the province that Grant Duff had governed.[16] On receiving the reply that the province was 'larger than Italy, including all the Italian islands', Biancheri astonishedly asked "What an empire is that, in which such a country is only a province?".[16]

Later life[edit | edit source]

On his return to England in 1887, he devoted himself to the arts and sciences. He was Lord Rector of University of Aberdeen in 1866–1872. He was member of the Athenaeum, the Cosmopolitan Club, Literary Society, Grillion's Club, Breakfast Club, and the Roxburghe Club, and was the president of the Royal Geographical Society from 1889 to 1893 and of the Royal Historical Society from 1892 to 1899.[2] He was treasurer of the exclusive dining club known as The Club from 1893.[2] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1881, and was appointed a trustee of the British Museum in 1903.[2]

He was Chairman of the Liberty and Property Defence League, established to curb socialist tendencies in the Liberal Party.

Personal life[edit | edit source]

In April 1859 he married Anna Julia Webster; they had four sons and four daughters, including:

He died in his home in Chelsea, London in January 1906, aged 76,[19] and was buried in Elgin Cathedral, Scotland.

Ancestry[edit | edit source]

Ancestors of M. E. Grant Duff
James Grant
John Grant of Kincardine O'Neill
Margaret Stewart of Bonkyl
James Cunningham Grant Duff of Eden
George Miln
James Miln Duff
Margaret Duff of Corsindae
Margaret Miln Duff
William Gordon, fourth & last of Farskane
Jean Gordon
Margaret Duff of Crombie
Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff
Robert Ainslie of Rowallen
Robert Ainslie of Darnchester
Magdeline Elliot of Woolie
Sir Whitelaw Ainslie K.B., M.D
John Whitelaw of Whitelaw
Katherine Whitelaw of Whitelaw
Rachel Stirling
Jane Catharine Ainslie
James Cunninghame of Balbogie
Mary Cunninghame
George Stirling of Carnock
Jean Ogilvy
Janet Hamilton of Preston

Works[edit | edit source]

  • Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1866). Studies in European Politics. Edmonston and Douglas. (Scan)
  • Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff. Elgin Speeches. 1871. (Scan)
  • Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1876). Notes of an Indian journey. Macmillan and Company. (Scan)
  • Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1893). Ernest Renan: In memoriam. Macmillan and Company. (Scan)
  • Notes from a diary. London: John Murray. - (1851-1872):1 2 - (1873-1881):1 2 - (1881-1886):1 2 - (1886-1888):1 2 - (1889-1891):1 2 - (1892-1895):1 2 - (1896-1901):1 2
  • Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1868). A Political Survey. (Scan)
  • Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1903). Out of the past. Some biographical essays. volume 1 volume 2

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ J McCarthy, England, (2009), Bibliobooks reprint
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Template:Cite DNB12
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Middleton, Alex (2025). "M. E. Grant Duff, Philosophic Liberalism and the Global Liberal Cause". History. doi:10.1111/1468-229X.70061. ISSN 1468-229X.
  4. ↑ George Taubman Goldie, "Right Hon. Sir Mountstuart E. Grant Duff, P. C., G. C. S. I., F. R. S.", The Geographical Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Mar., 1906), pp. 306-308
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Stephen Lucius Gwynn (2009). The Life of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles W. Dilke, Volume 1. BiblioBazaar, LLC. p. 385. ISBN 978-0-559-13101-1.
  6. ↑ "Affairs in Foreign Lands" (PDF). The New York Times. 13 April 1880.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 S. Muthiah (21 August 2002). "the second longest beach". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Tercentenary Madras Staff (1939). Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee Commemoration Volume. Indian Branch, Oxford Press. pp. 271–273.
  9. ↑ "Iris grant-duffii, Iris melanosticta". flowersinisrael.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Kramb, D. (6 September 2004). "Iris grant-duffii". signa.org. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  11. ↑ Maxwell, Herbert. "Memories of the months, being pages from the notebook of a field-naturalist and antiquary (Volume 1) online". ebooksread.com. p. 114. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Oliver, J.W. (1901). "Forestry in India". The Indian Forester. Vol. v.27 (Original from Harvard University, Digitized 4 April 2008 ed.). Allahabad: R. P. Sharma, Business Manager, Indian Forester. pp. 616–617.
  13. ↑ S. Muthiah (13 September 2003). "WILLING TO STRIKE AND NOT RELUCTANT TO WOUND". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
  14. ↑ Eugène F. Irschick (1994). Dialogue and history: constructing South India, 1795-1895. University of California Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-520-08405-6.
  15. ↑ R. N. Sampath; Pe. Cu Maṇi (1992). V.O. Chidambaram Pillai: Builders of modern India. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. pp. 15–16.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Thurston, Edgar (1913). Provincial Geographies of India: The Madras Presidency with Mysore, Coorg and Associated States. Cambridge University. p. 7.
  17. ↑ "Marriages". The Times. No. 36103. London. 30 March 1900. p. 1.
  18. ↑ H. C. G. Matthew, 'Duff, Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant- (1829–1906)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004
  19. ↑ "Sir Grant Duff dead" (PDF). The New York Times. 12 January 1906.

References[edit | edit source]

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Unrecognised parameter
Preceded by
George Skene Duff 		Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs
1857–1881 		Succeeded by
Alexander Asher
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The Lord Clinton 		Under-Secretary of State for India
1868–1874 		Succeeded by
Lord George Hamilton
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The Earl Cadogan 		Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
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1866–1872 		Succeeded by
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