Robert Grundy
Robert Grundy ( -1859)
Died 1859
1861 Obituary [1]
MR. ROBERT GRUNDY served a regular apprenticeship in the works of Mr. Elijah Galloway and of Messrs. Seaward from 1829 to 1834.
He was afterwards employed at the Woolwich Dockyard, and subsequently by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston, and Co., of Liverpool, by whom he was sent, in 1839, to Rio de Janeiro, where he acted, for several years, as Chief Engineer to the Brazilian Mail Steam Packet Company.
During this period, Mr. Grundy accompanied the Emperor of Brazil, on a tour through a portion of His Majesty's dominions, as Engineer-in-Chief, there being several steam vessels in the fleet ; and for his services on that occasion he received the title of 'Cavalheiro da Ordem da Rosa.'
He then visited England for about a year, and having been appointed, in 1848, Chief Engineer of the Arsenal da Marinha, at Rio, he returned to Brazil in the steam ship 'Don Alfonso,' belonging to the Brazilian Government. It was when this vessel was on her trial trip, off the Great Orme's Head, near Liverpool, having at the time a distinguished party on board, that she was the means of saving, from the American emigrant ship 'Ocean Monarch,' then on fire, upwards of one hundred and sixty souls ; and in the rescue of the perishing people, Mr. Grundy afforded most active co-operation.
Able and zealous in the performance of his duties, and ready and willing for any service, Mr. Grundy became extremely useful to the Brazilian Government, both as a Mechanical Engineer and as a Naval Architect ; and he succeeded in winning the esteem of his superiors, who placed implicit confidence in his judgement. He held the rank of Lieutenant in the Brazilian Navy, and was always in charge of the engines during the marine excursions of the Emperor. He lived, for some years, on the island of Sapocaia, in the Bay of Rio, where he hospitably entertained many of his countrymen.
In 1856, he was sent by the Government, to superintend the arsenal at Bahia, at which place he died in 1859. He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1854, but he never enjoyed any opportunity of attending the Meetings.