Colesworthey (or Colesworthy) Grant, one of the first activists who addressed cruelty against animals in India, was born on this day. He was also an artist and a writer.

Born in London, he came to India early. A fall impaired his movements for life.

Early in his career, he drew portraits of eminent persons from Calcutta. Later, he was appointed a teacher of drawing at Presidency College.

He was moved by the condition of animals, especially those in transport or agriculture, and founded Calcutta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1861. He is said to have helped animals drink water from a fountain at the north-east corner of Laldighi.

He wrote Rural life of Bengal, Anglo-Indian Domestic Sketch, Pencilings of a Rough Trip to Rangoon In 1846 (Lord Dalhousie had sent him to Burma on a documenting mission with illustrations) and a book for children about cruelty.

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