William Henry Melvill


Sir William Henry Melvill was a British barrister and civil servant who was Solicitor to the Board of Inland Revenue from 1866–94.

Early life and education

Melvill was born in Islington, London, the third son and one of nine children of Sir James Cosmo Melvill, Permanent Under-Secretary for India, and Hester Jane Frances Sellon. His father was the eldest surviving son of Scottish philanthropist Philip Melvill, Lieut.-Governor of Pendennis Castle. The Melvill family became prominent through the East India Company. His uncles included Sir Peter Melvill, Philip Melvill, and Rev. Henry Melvill.
He was educated at Rugby and at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Career

In 1853, Melvill was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn. He was appointed junior counsel to the Crown in 1865. The following year, then-Chancellor of the Exchequer William Ewart Gladstone appointed him Solicitor to the Board of Inland Revenue, a post which he held until his retirement in 1894. During his tenure, he was associated with successive Chancellors of the Exchequer in the preparation of their various Budgets.
He was knighted in 1888.

Family

In 1862, Melvill married Hon. Elizabeth Teresa, daughter of Thomas Lister, 2nd Baron Ribblesdale, and stepdaughter of Prime Minister John Russell, 1st Earl Russell. They had four sons:
Sir William died in 1911 in Eastbourne, Sussex.