Philip Melvill

Melvill served in India, as a lieutenant in the 73rd regiment^[3] in the war against Hyder Ali's forces. In 1780, he was wounded and captured. He was held prisoner for four years under bad conditions.^[2] On his release, he was promoted to captain. However, he was still very ill and stayed with his brother in Bengal until 1786, when he was much recovered.^[1]

On his return to England in 1797, he was appointed the commander of an invalid company based on Guernsey, where he married Elizabeth Dobrée. He set up a school for the children of soldiers in his command.

He was then appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Pendennis Castle and served until 1811. He formed the Pendennis Volunteer Artillery, a local militia.^[2]

Melvill married Elizabeth Carey Dobrée (1770–1845), youngest daughter of Peter Dobrée of Beauregarde, Guernsey, and Rachel Bonamy. They had nine children:^[4]

• Lt. John Fall Melvill (26 April 1789 – 11 July 1808), drowned, aged 19, off Madeira, in 1808^[1]
• Peter Bonamy Melvill (29 December 1790 – 12 April 1803), died young
• Sir James Cosmo Melvill (1792–1861), secretary of the East India Company^[5]
• Jean Bonamy Melvill (29 April 1794 – 10 May 1862), died unmarried; resided with her sister Elizabeth through 1853 and then her sister Rachel
• Philip Melvill (1796–1882), Military Secretary to the East India Company in 1837; married in 1831 Eliza Sandys (1805–1890), daughter of Lt.-Col. William Sandys
• Rev. Canon Henry Melvill (1798–1871), Church of England clergyman, principal of the East India Company College, Haileybury; canon residentiary of St Paul's Cathedral; rector of Barnes; married in 1831 Margaret Jennings (1805–1876)^[6]
• Rachel Dobrée Melvill (4 August 1800 – 17 April 1885) married in 1829 Henry Kemble, M.P.
• Major General Sir Peter Melvill Melvill KCB (1803–1895), military and naval secretary to the government of Bombay; married in 1836 Catherine Robertson (died 1881)
• Elizabeth Carey Melvill (20 December 1807 – 18 October 1853), died unmarried; resided with her sister, Jean

In 1807, Melvill founded the Falmouth Misericordia Society "for the relief of poor strangers and distressed persons of the town".^[7] He also helped found a Church Girls' School in 1802 and a Boys' School in 1805.^[8]

Melvill died on 27 October 1811 at Pendennis Castle. Memoirs of him were published in 1812.^[1]

The Falmouth Misericordia Society was still in operation in 1887.^[7]

Melvill Road, connecting the A39 road with Falmouth Docks, is named after him.