Elizabeth Grant (songwriter) facts for kids

Elizabeth Grant (later Murray) (around 1745–1814) was a talented Scottish songwriter. She came from a place called Carron, Speyside in Scotland. She is best known for writing the famous song Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch.

Elizabeth Grant's Life Story

Elizabeth Grant was likely born around 1745 near Aberlour, by the River Spey in Banffshire. Her father was Lieutenant Joseph Grant.

Family and Marriages

Around 1763, Elizabeth married her cousin, Captain James Grant of Carron. Sadly, Captain Grant faced financial difficulties. He had to sell their home, Carron, in 1786 or 1787. He later passed away in 1790 in Holyrood, Edinburgh.

After Captain Grant's death, Elizabeth married again. Her second husband was Dr. Murray, a doctor from Bath, Somerset. Elizabeth Grant (then Murray) died in Bath around 1814. A painting of her used to be kept at Castle Grant.

Her Famous Song

Elizabeth Grant is mainly remembered for her song Roy's Wife. It became very popular almost immediately. The song talks about people and places near the Aberdeen border of her home county.

Roy's Wife was sung to an old tune called 'The Ruffian's Rant'. The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns even mentioned Roy's Wife in his letters in 1793 and 1794. He also tried writing his own short song to the same tune. Because Burns called the tune 'Roy's Wife' in his letters, we can guess that Elizabeth Grant's song became well-known around 1787.