Malcolm, John (1769–1833)

Scottish administrator and diplomat. He spent most of his career in India and eventually became governor of Bombay (now Mumbai) 1826–30. On his return to England he was MP for Launceston, Cornwall 1831–32.

He was born in Burnfoot, Scotland, and joined the East India Company in 1782. In 1798 he was appointed assistant to the resident at Hyderabad by Lord Wellesley. He was envoy to Persia three times (1800, 1807, 1810) and also private secretary to Wellesley 1801–02. He was Wellesley's political agent during the Maratha war 1803–04. He wrote Political History of India (1811), History of Persia (1818), Administration of India (1833), and Life of Clive (1836).