Alexander Grant (Upper Canada politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Grant
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| Administrator of the Government | |
| In office 11 August 1805 – 24 August 1806 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | Peter Hunter |
| Succeeded by | Francis Gore |
| Constituency | Upper Canada |
| Justice of the Peace | |
| In office 3 January 1786 – 8 May 1813 |
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| Constituency | Western District, Upper Canada |
| Deputy Superintendent General of Indian affairs | |
| In office 15 January 1799 – March 1799 Serving with Thomas McKee and James Baby
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| Preceded by | Alexander McKee |
| Succeeded by | William Claus |
| Member of the Executive Council of Upper Canada | |
| In office 9 July 1792 – 8 May 1813 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Governor | John Graves Simcoe |
| Member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada | |
| In office 12 July 1792 – 8 May 1813 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Governor | John Graves Simcoe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 May 1734 Glenmoriston, Scotland |
| Died | 8 May 1813 (aged 78) Grosse Pointe, Michigan |
| Resting place | St. John's Churchyard, Sandwich, Upper Canada |
| Occupation | Royal Navy officer, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, Naval superintendent, businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomery's Highlanders) Royal Navy |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Battles/wars | Seven Years' War |
Alexander Grant (20 May 1734 – 8 May 1813) was a Royal Navy officer, businessman, and politician in Upper Canada. During his service with the Royal Navy Grant saw action in the Seven Years' War before becoming a naval superintendent. He then embarked on a career in the ship building industry before losing much of his wealth during the American Revolution. Grant recovered, however, and rose to prominence in civil society, becoming the administrator of Upper Canada in 1805.
Grant entered the Royal Navy in 1755 and saw service in North America, on Lake Champlain, during the Seven Years' War. Grant became a naval superintendent in 1763, with his headquarters on Navy Island (in the Niagara River), before moving to Detroit, Michigan. His headquarters again changed, every winter, during which time the regiment was in New York City, up to 1774.
Merchant career
He began to build his own vessels, essentially selling them to himself at a considerable profit. He built a commercial empire by also selling or renting ships to merchants and this was initially solidified during the American Revolution during which he was given military command of most of the Great Lakes.
However, in the course of the revolution Grant lost much of his income with the loss of 12,000 acres (49 km²) of land he owned in New York, and the end of his participation in private shipping.
Civil career
Grant recovered, however, and rose to prominence in civil society, being appointed a justice of the peace in 1786 and, to a succession of governmental and political positions (in both Upper Canada and Lower Canada), he joined the Executive Council of Upper Canada under governor John Graves Simcoe as well as the Legislative Council. In 1799, Grant became a deputy superintendent of Indian Affairs.
In August 1805, Grant became administrator of Upper Canada, upon the death of Lieutenant-Governor Peter Hunter, and continued Hunter's policies until a new lieutenant governor, Francis Gore, arrived from Britain, in August 1806.
Grant died in 1813 at his home Castle Grant in Grosse Pointe Farms near Detroit and was buried on the other side of the Detroit River at St. John's Churchyard (Brock and Sandwich Streets) in Sandwich, now Windsor, Ontario.
