Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/McGrigor, James (1819-1863)
McGRIGOR, JAMES (1819–1863), lieutenant-colonel in the Indian army, son of Charles McGrigor or McGregor, who retired from the service as lieutenant-colonel 70th foot, and died barrackmaster at Nottingham in 1841 (see Gent Mag. 1841, pt. ii. p. 93), and nephew of Sir James McGrigor, bart., M.D. [q. v.], was born in 1819, educated at the East India Company's military academy at Addiscombe, and in 1834 received a Bombay infantry cadetship. On 24 Feb. 1835 he was appointed ensign in the late 21st Bombay native infantry, in which he became lieutenant 18 July 1839 and captain 24 Jan. 1845. As a lieutenant he served under Sir Charles James Napier [q. v.] in the Sind campaigns, and for a time was adjutant of the Guzerat irregular horse. He became brevet-major 28 Nov. 1854. In September 1857 McGrigor, still a captain and brevet-major, was in command of the 218t Bombay infantry at Karachi. The Indian mutiny was at its height, and Bartle Frere had just sent away every available European and Balooch soldier either to Multan or the South Maratha country [see under Frere, Sir Henry Bartle Edward]. Only 147 Europeans remained at the station in addition to the native garrison. Shortly before 11 p.m. on 16 Sept. 1857 McGrigor was warned by two faithful native officers that a mutiny of the regiment and a massacre of Europeans was arranged for twelve o'clock the same night. Mrs. McGrigor at once most courageously decided to leave her husband's hands free by making her way alone to a place of comparative safety. Snatching a couple of sheets from the bed and wrapping them round her, in the guise of an ayah sue escaped unmolested. McGrigor hurried to the authorities, and a troop of the Bombay European horse artillery, under Colonel (afterwards Lieutenant-general) Sir George Hutt [see under Hutt, Sir William], galloped down to the 21st lines, arriving a few minutes before the time appointed for the outbreak. When, on the stroke of midnight, McGrigor ordered the 'assembly' to sound, the regiment found itself confronted by the battery, with guns loaded and ready for action. In answer to a short but forcible appeal from McGrigor the 21st laid down their arms, which were removed on the artillery wagons. The regiment was disbanded, and some of the ring-leaders, who had fled, were brought back by the Sind police, tried by a court-martial of native officers, and executed, not one escaping. McGrigor received the thanks of the government, and on 20 July 1858 was appointed major of the (late) 30th Bombay native infantry, one of the new regiments then raised in Sind. On 1 Jan. 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the 15th Bombay native infantry. He had been stationed for some months with his battalion at Aden, passing much of his time on shooting excursions in Arabia, when he was accidentally drowned while bathing, on 28 June 1863.
McGrigor married a sister of Lieutenant-general Graeme Alexander Lockhart of Castlehill, Lanarkshire, and late of the 78th highlanders.
[Indian Army Lists and Registers; Gent. Mag. 1863, pt. ii. pp. 247, 510.]