Major-general Sir George Le Grand Jacob CB, KCSI (1805 – 1881) was a British army officer in the service of the East India Company, and an Oriental polyglot.

Jacob was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, and under private tutors in France and England, and when about fifteen was sent to London to learn Oriental languages under Dr. John Borthwick Gilchrist.

Early in 1845 he served as extra aide-de-camp to Major-general Delamotte during the disturbances in the South Mahratta country, and was wounded in the head and arm by a falling rock when in command of the storming party in the assault on the hill-fort of Munsuntosh.

The little state was bankrupt, with its gaols overflowing; but Jacob's judicious measures during a period of six years restored order, retrieved the finances, and reformed abuses.

His health needing change, he obtained leave, and visited China, Java, Sarawak, and Australia, "keeping his eyes and ears ever on the alert, always reading, writing, or inquiring—mostly smoking—winning men by his geniality and women by his courteous bearing".

[5] Jacob was specially thanked in presidency general orders 8 January 1858 for "the promptitude and decision shown by you on the occasion of the recent insurrection at Kolapore", and "for the manner in which you upheld the honour of this army, proving to all around you what a British officer can effect by gallantry and prudence in the face of the greatest difficulties".

[6] Jacob's powers, at first limited to Kolapore, Sawunt Warree, and Rutnagerry, were in May 1858 extended to the whole South Mahratta country, of which he was appointed special commissioner, the command of the troops with the rank of brigadier-general being subsequently added.

After dealing successfully with various local outbreaks,[7] Jacob was sent to Goa to confer with the Portuguese authorities respecting the Sawunt rebels on the frontier.

A list of papers bearing on the history, archaeology, topography, geology, and metallurgy of Western India, contributed by Jacob at different times to various publications, is given in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, London, new series, xiii.

The last twenty years of Jacob's life were spent at home under much suffering: a constant struggle with asthma, bronchitis, and growing blindness.

With the assistance of his niece and adopted daughter, Miss Gertrude Le Grand Jacob, he wrote his Western India before and during the Mutiny, which was published in 1871, and was highly commended by the historian Kaye; and shortly before his death he paid 20l.

for a translation from the Dutch of some papers of interest on the island of Bali (east of Java), subsequently printed in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, London, viii.