Background
He was the second son of George Loch (d 1786) of Drylaw, Edinburgh.
He was the second son of George Loch (d 1786) of Drylaw, Edinburgh.
He joined the marine service of the East India company and also served as a volunteer with the Royal Navy. In 1800 he served on Lord Saint Vincent’s flagship during the blockade of Brest and later that year was in the unsuccessful Ferrol expedition as aide-de-camp to Sir Edward Pellew, one of the British commanders. He made his fortune trading with China and in 1821 was elected a Director of the East India Company, a position he held until 1854, acting as Chairman in 1829 and 1833.
In 1837 he was attacked and stabbed by a disgruntled former employee of the Company, who subsequently committed suicide whilst in custody.
He died at Bushey Grove, Hertfordshire in February 1868 aged 86. The son George also joined the navy but died of fever at Martinique in 1848.
10th United Kingdom Parliament]
In 1830 he was returned as Member of Parliament for Hythe along with Stewart Marjoribanks (brother of East India Company Chairman Campbell Marjoribanks), serving until the constituency"s representation was reduced to one member in the Great Reform Acting of 1832.