Sir James Grant, 8th Baronet facts for kids
Sir James Grant of Grant, 8th Baronet, was an important Scottish landowner and politician. He was also the leader, or Chief, of Clan Grant. People often called him the good Sir James because he was known for being kind and fair. He was born on May 19, 1738, in Moray, Scotland, and passed away on February 18, 1811, at his family home, Castle Grant.
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Sir James Grant's Early Life and Education
James Grant was the son of Sir Ludovick Grant, who was the 7th Baronet. His mother was Lady Margaret Ogilvy. She was the daughter of a famous statesman named James Ogilvy. James grew up in Moray, Scotland.
He received a good education. He went to Westminster School in London. After that, he studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, which is a well-known university.
Sir James Grant's Political Career
James Grant followed in his father's footsteps in politics. In 1761, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Elginshire. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the country's government. He held this job until 1768.
In 1773, James became the 8th Baronet of Colquhoun after his father passed away. A Baronet is a special title, like a knight, that is passed down through families.
He also helped start the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783. This is a group of smart people who study science and other important subjects. Sir James was the first "Physical President" of this society.
Later, from 1790 to 1795, he was an MP again, this time for Banffshire. He also served as the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire. This role meant he was the King's representative in that area.
Sir James was also a colonel in a special army group called a fencible regiment. This was a local army raised to defend the country. His regiment was called the Grant Fencible Regiment and was formed in 1793.
Sir James Grant's Family Life
In 1763, Sir James Grant married Jean Duff. She was the daughter of Alexander Duff. They had a large family with 14 children! Seven of their children lived to be adults. Jean passed away in 1805.
Two of their sons became important figures. One was Lewis Alexander Grant-Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Seafield. The other was Colonel Francis William Ogilvy-Grant, 6th Earl of Seafield.
Sir James's sister, Penuel Grant, married a Scottish writer named Henry Mackenzie. He was also a cousin to a famous naturalist, James Lind.
Sir James Grant passed away at his family home, Castle Grant, in February 1811. He was 72 years old. His son, Lewis Alexander Grant, took over his title. Lewis later also became the 5th Earl of Seafield.
See also
- Grant or Strathspey Fencibles
- Earl of Seafield
