Congreve, was among the earliest English tea planters in the Anamalai Hills of southern India.

Congreve was educated at Charterhouse School, Godalming, 1891-93, and at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Carver Marsh who was one of the early explorers of Anaimalai Hills in Southern Western Ghats and instrumental in opening up this region for tea and coffee plantation.

Congreve moved to the Anamallais in March 1897 to help Carver Marsh in establishing tea plantations.

[7][8] He was chairman during 1920-21 and 1930-32 of The United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI) and served as its president in 1937–38.