John Grant (died 1637) facts for kids
John Grant of Freuchie (born 1596, died 1637) was an important Scottish landowner. He was known for managing his family's estates and improving their home, Castle Grant.
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Life and Work of John Grant
John Grant was the son of John Grant and Lilias Murray. His mother's parents were John Murray of Tullibardine and Agnes Graham. Even King James VI and I and Queen Anne of Denmark attended his parents' wedding at Tullibardine Castle. The King and his helper, John Wemyss, even brought costumes and danced at the party!
Early Life and Education
John Grant was taught by Patrick Inglis. Patrick later became a church minister in Kirkwall. After John married in 1614, people knew him as John Grant of Mulben.
Becoming a Knight
It seems John was made a knight in 1617. This happened when King James visited Scotland. The King even asked John's father to send special Scottish birds like ptarmigan and capercaillie. These were meant to impress the King's guests when they arrived in Newcastle.
Managing the Family Estates
John Grant worked with his father to manage their family's lands. In 1620, he traveled to Edinburgh to meet with important lawyers. Their journey took them through places like Blair Atholl and Huntingtower.
The legal problem was about payments called "teind duties." These were owed to the Marquess of Huntly. John Grant found that some of his own followers were also in Edinburgh for legal issues. He was able to solve these problems himself, without needing the courts. This was seen as a great achievement for a clan chief.
Becoming the Laird
In 1622, John Grant became the sixth Laird of Grant, also known as Freuchie. Running the estates and traveling to Edinburgh cost a lot of money. So, he sold some land called Lethen. This land had belonged to his mother, Lilias Murray.
Lilias also helped by selling some of her own land in Cromdale. She even moved into Castle Grant. In return, she gave her son a large part of her yearly income. In August 1631, John Grant visited his uncle, Patrick Murray, in London.
Improving Castle Grant
The family's main home was Freuchie Castle, which was then called Ballachastell. Today, it is known as Castle Grant. John Grant made some exciting changes to the castle.
New Sculptures and Art
In 1629, John Grant asked an artist named Ralph Rawlinson to create more than a dozen sculptures. These sculptures were of animals and heraldic beasts, which are like symbols for families. John didn't like two of the choices, so Rawlinson offered to sculpt a gorgon (a mythical creature) and a rhinoceros instead.
Ralph Rawlinson was also famous for his work on a big show at Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace in 1617. In that show, a hero named St George fought a dragon! Rawlinson also carved sundials and worked for the Marquess of Huntly.
Decorating the Long Gallery
During John Grant's time, Castle Grant had a "long gallery." This was a long room often used for walking and displaying art. In 1635, he hired a painter named John Anderson from Aberdeen. Anderson was to decorate a new wooden ceiling in "fine colours."
Anderson also gilded (covered in gold) the carved initials or symbols on four windows. These windows lit up the long gallery. He also made and decorated four picture frames for portraits.
Family Life
In 1614, John Grant married Mary Ogilvie. She was the daughter of Walter Ogilvie of Deskford and Findlater.
John Grant's Children
John and Mary had several children, including:
- James Grant (1616-1663), who later became the Laird of Freuchie.
- Patrick Grant of Cluniemor and Cluniebeg, also known as the Tutor of Grant. He married Sibilla MacKenzie.
- Mary Grant, who married two times. First, she married Lord Lewis Gordon, 3rd Marquess of Huntly. Later, she married James Ogilvie, 2nd Earl of Airlie.
- Lilias Grant, who married John Byres of Coitis.
