Captain Robert Melville Grindlay FRSA MRAS FZS FRHS FRBS[a] (23 October 1786 – 9 December 1877) was a British soldier, artist, and banker during the 18th and 19th centuries.

[1][2][3] Born in London, England he served as an East India Company agent in the Bombay Army, during which time he made a large collection of sketches and drawings of the Indian subcontinent.

[d][12][13][14] His grandparents James (died 1765) and Christina Grindlay (née Govan),[15] attorneys at law, had emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina from Glasgow, Scotland during the early 18th century, after previous generations had resettled in Lanarkshire from the North Midlands.

[30][31] Maria was the daughter of John William Commerell, of Strood Green near Horsham, a Sheriff of Sussex, whose family originated from Heilbronn in Swabia, Germany,[e] where they were privy councillors and confidents of the Dukes of Württemberg.

Drawing on his extensive knowledge and experience of the region he undertook a growing number of personal commissions of assistance, to the point where in 1828 he founded Leslie & Grindlay, to provide similar services to the wider public on a permanent business basis.

[1][6] Widely regarded as a "gifted amateur artist",[42][43] he sketched hundreds of landscapes in Gujarat, the Deccan, and along the coast with 24 of his works featuring in 75 publications and now held across 439 separate library holdings (as of 2021).

[45][46] This series was first published in 6 parts comprising 6 plates each, 36 in total, hand-coloured aquatints with accompanying explanatory descriptions and annotations in 1830 by Smith, Elder & Co, having been started by Rudolph Ackermann in 1826.

"We consider it only just to a work of the highest class, to say, that having seen Captain Grindlay's Views on the Scenery, Costume, Architecture of the Western side of India, we cannot hesitate to pronounce its illustrations beautiful – they are admirable specimens of the art, and the manner in which they are coloured and gotten up, reflects infinite credit on spirited publishers"[46] – John Bull Grindlay presented a copy of his Scenery, Costumes and Architecture chiefly on the Western Side of India to Sir Thomas Lawrence, President of the Royal Academy in 1829 and later to Prince Albert and his groom-in-waiting General Sir Francis Seymour in 1840.

[25] Although likely initially motivated by classical imperial capitalism, Grindlay's experiences in South Asia lead to his becoming an ardent Indophile, committed to the strengthening of the Indian economy and infrastructure.

[6] In his role as London agent to the Stream Committees of the Indian Presidencies during the Company Raj, Grindlay advocated strongly for the establishment of regular and permanent communications by steam vessels between Great Britain and India, for the benefit of both countries.

This gentleman having been appointed agent for all the Presidencies has commenced his duties by the issue of a Pamphlet on the state of the question as to Steam Communication with India"[54] – United Service Journal "This important subject is here handled in so masterly a manner by Captain Grindlay, the statements are so clear, the illustrations so lucid, and the arguments and inference so strong and legitimate, that we think we shall do most justice to the author by freely quoting from the Pamphlet itself...Captain Grindlay's observations on this point and sincerely trust that the ensuing Session of Parliament will not pass without some effective steps being taken by the legislature for the establishment of such a rapid and certain communication with India as our national interests and the cause of humanity and civilization demand...We feel the country to be deeply indebted to Captain Grindlay for his exertions and we trust the day will come when he will not go unrewarded.

[55] The success of this bulletin prompted the partners to transfer printing to London and then dispatch the news sheets to India, thereby improving efficiency, and to expand the remit to include logistical advice for travellers.

[24][55][56][57] Considered a "first rank among the journals of India",[58] and "resemble[ing] the Spectator in substance",[57] The Home News hit peak circulation in 1862 with 15,000 copies sold, after which technological advance, principally electrical telegraphy,[24] meant it was no long required and publication ceased in 1898 with edition 2970.

He and his wife Maria afterwards moved to Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France where he focused on his artistic passions in the "shadow of the Maritime Alps", and resided for the rest of his life, dying in 1877 at the age of 91.