Charles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg, PC (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 in 1811 he was elected to the British House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Inverness Burghs. He held that seat until 1818, when was elected as MP for Inverness-shire.

He was a Lord of the Treasury from December 1813 until August 1819, when he became Chief Secretary for Ireland and a Privy Counsellor. In 1823 he was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade; from September 1827 to June 1828 he was President of the Board of Trade and Treasurer of the Navy.

As a Whig

Grant broke with the Tories over Reform and joined the Whigs (via the Canningite Tory splinter group). He was President of the Board of Control under Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne from November 1830 to November 1834. At the Board of Control Grant was primarily responsible for the Act of 1833 that 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, of Glenelg (now Highland but then in the County of Inverness). His term of office was a stormy one. His differences with Sir Benjamin d'Urban, Governor of Cape Colony, were serious; but more so were those with King William IV and others over the administration of Canada. Lord Glenelg 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 Lord Durham, and the movement for his supersession found supporters even among his colleagues in the cabinet. In February 1839 Lord Glenelg resigned. He has been called the last of the Canningites. His brother, Sir Robert Grant, was also an MP and later Governor of Bombay.

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