Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Metcalfe, James
METCALFE, JAMES (1817–1888), lieutenant-colonel Indian army, a natural son of Lord Metcalfe [see Metcalfe, Charles Theophilus, Baron Metcalfe; cf. Gent. Mag. 1846, pt. ii. p. 536], was born in 1817, educated at Addiscombe Military Seminary, and in 1836 was appointed to the late 3rd Bengal native infantry, of which regiment he was adjutant from 1839 to 1846. On the death of his father in the latter year he inherited a fortune of 50,000l. (Gent. Mag. ut supra). He was aide-de-camp to the Marquis of Dalhousie from 1848 to 1853. On the outbreak of the mutiny he was appointed interpreter to the commander-in-chief. In that capacity, as well as in that of aide-decamp and commandant at headquarters, he went through the mutiny with Sir Colin Campbell, lord Clyde [q. v.], 'whose side he never quitted from the day he joined him in Calcutta in 1857 until Clyde left Paris for England in 1860' (Shadwell, Preface, i. p. x). Metcalfe was made C.B., with the brevet of lieutenant-colonel, and had the mutiny medal and clasps. He retired in 1861, and died at Harcourt Terrace, London, S.W., 8 March 1888. Metcalfe married in 1852 José Eliza, daughter of Evelyn Meadows Gordon, Bengal civil service.
[Gent. Mag. 1846, pt. ii. pp. 534-6; L. Shadwell's Life of Lord Clyde; Broad Arrow, 17 March 1888.]