.\3 
«<1 MONTHLY. \» 
Vol. XVII.] COLOMBO, FEBRUARY 1ST, 1898. [No. 8 
“PIONEERS OF THE PLANTING ENTERPRISE IN CEYLON.” 
(Second Series.) 
SIR JOHN J. ORINLINTON, KT., 
SOLDIER, ENGINEER, SURVEYOR, MERCHANT, COMPANY DIRECTOR, M.L.C. 
AND M.M.C. &c., IN CEYLON:— 1857 to 1898. 
EFORE the present issue of 
the Tropical Agriculturist is 
in the hands of the majority 
of its readers Sir John Grin- 
linton will have retired from 
Ceylon where he has been 
resident for 40 years, and he 
wiU carry with him hearty 
good wishes from all sections of our mixed com; 
munity for a lengthy period of enjo)rm.ent of his 
well-earned otium cum dignitate. He has long taken 
a keen interest in the affairs of the Colony, and for 
many years an active part in its public life, rendering 
good service as a Municipal and Legislative Coun- 
cillor, Administrator of Companies, and a member 
of various bodies which have for their object the 
promotion of the material and moral welfare of 
his fellow-citizens. He has had a very honourable 
as well as successful career, and of that career 
wo now propose in this notice to give an outline. 
Erect in figure, lithe in limb, and delightfully 
fresh in complexion, one can hardly think that Sir 
John has attained his sixty-ninth year, but such 
is the case. Time has certainly whitened his locks, 
but his silvery hair and beard only serve to enhance 
his erect presence and alert bearing. He carries his 
years extremely well indeed, and we can point to 
him as a proof of the argument we have frequently 
advanced that long residence in a tropical climate, 
such as that of Ceylon at all events, is by no means 
inimical to good health or longevity. A son of the late 
Mr. Thomas Grinlinton of Portarlington, he was edu- 
cated in Liverpool at Mount St. Institute, a well-known 
educational establishment, more especially for boys 
intended for engineering and mercantile pursuits. 
It was also at this school that Dr. Archer, late 
Brigade Surgeon in Ceylon was educated, but the 
Doctor had just entered when Sir John was about to 
leave to commence the business of life. Young 
Grilinton’s natural aptitude for engineering was well 
developed here, and at an early age he entered the 
Ordnance Survey Office at Liverpool, where his abili- 
ties gained for him the distinction of being selected to 
assist Major Tucker of the Royal Engineers and the 
Naval Officer in charge of the survey of the mouth 
of the Mersey in fixing the Channel and the 
treacherous sand banks in that locality. The ex- 
cellent work which he did there attracted notice 
and led, before he was 17 years of age, to his 
entering the Royal Engineer Service with a view 
to special employment at the Ordnance Map Office, 
Southampton, where in a short time he was placed 
at important duties under Executive Officer (Colonel 
Yolland, R E., and afterwards under the Director 
General Colonel Hall and the present Genera] 
Gosset, who was as Capt. Gosset, Surveyor- 
General of Ceylon). Of General Gosset Sir John 
always speaks in the highest terms aud looking 
