S. M. (Stephen Meredyth) Edwardes

Born in 1873, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, and joined the Indian Civil Service in the 1890s. He spent much of his career in the Bombay Presidency, where he served in a range of administrative posts and became known as the first civilian Commissioner of Police in Bombay.

Alongside his official work, he wrote extensively on Indian history and urban life. His books include By-ways of Bombay, The Rise of Bombay, and The Bombay City Police, and he also worked on historical reference projects including The Oxford History of India. His writing is still noted for the way it captures the streets, institutions, and everyday character of Bombay in the early twentieth century.

Edwardes later became editor of The Indian Antiquary, continuing his historical and scholarly interests. He died in 1927, leaving behind a body of work that remains useful to readers interested in Bombay, colonial administration, and the historical texture of western India.