Walter Colquhoun Grant facts for kids

Walter Colquhoun Grant (born May 27, 1822 – died August 27, 1861) was a British Army officer. He was also a very early settler in what we now call British Columbia, Canada. He worked for a short time as a surveyor for the colony. However, he left after a few years to go back to the army. He passed away in India when he was 39 years old, while still serving in the military.

Early Life and Military Career

Walter Colquhoun Grant was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 27, 1822. He came from a family with a strong military background. His father, Colquhoun Grant, was a chief intelligence officer for Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars.

Walter Grant joined the British Army before April 7, 1843. On that date, he was promoted to lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys). He had previously served in the same regiment as a cornet, which is a junior officer rank. He later bought the rank of captain on April 18, 1845.

Becoming a Pioneer Settler

At just 24 years old, Walter Grant was the youngest captain in the British Army. He lost his money around this time. So, he decided to start fresh by buying 200 acres (about 0.8 square kilometers) of land. He bought this land from the Hudson's Bay Company in an area that would later become Sooke, British Columbia.

Some people thought he left the army completely. However, records show he simply transferred to the 47th Regiment of Foot. This move helped him get some money, as officer positions in cavalry (horse-riding) regiments were more expensive than those in infantry (foot soldier) regiments.

First Settlers on Vancouver Island

In 1849, the Hudson's Bay Company first opened Vancouver Island for people to settle there. At first, not many people were interested. The land cost £1 per acre, which was expensive compared to the free land in the Oregon Territory. Also, settlers had to bring other workers or family members with them.

Walter Grant was the only person to commit to settling there at first. This made him the very first independent colonist to settle on the island. He sent eight settlers ahead of him. When he arrived in 1849, it's said he shot a cow, thinking it was a buffalo!

Even though he wasn't very skilled at it, the Hudson's Bay Company hired him as their first surveyor. However, he resigned from this job in March 1850 without finishing any surveys.

Life and Work in the Colony

After arriving, Grant cleared some of the land he had bought. He then set up a sawmill there. His land was located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Fort Victoria.

Grant left the colony in 1850 to search for gold in Oregon. He returned in 1853 to sell his land.

Contributions and Achievements

While living in the colony, Walter Grant gathered information about the plants, animals, and local people. He also studied the trade happening there. He later published this information in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society. He also helped create a map of Vancouver Island, which was drawn by John Arrowsmith.

In 1853, he reported that the population of the colony was 450 people. About 300 lived in Victoria, 125 in Nanaimo, and the rest in Fort Rupert. It's important to note that he did not include the native peoples in his count.

Walter Grant is known for being the first person to bring settlers to the Colony of Vancouver Island who were not part of the Hudson's Bay Company. He is also credited with bringing the first sports event, cricket, to what is now British Columbia when he arrived in 1849.

However, he also introduced a plant called common broom to the island. This plant is now considered harmful and invasive.

Later Military Service and Death

On August 1, 1854, Walter Grant was appointed Captain Commandant of a group of soldiers called the Mounted Staff Corps. He was also given the local rank of major. This group was sent to Turkey before the start of the Crimean War. He was promoted to local lieutenant colonel on October 27, 1855.

He later became a cornet in the 2nd Dragoon Guards on November 30, 1855, and was promoted to lieutenant on June 16, 1857. For his service, he received a Turkish award called the Order of the Medjidieh, 4th Class.

After the conflict in Crimea ended, he served in India. He was a brigade major in Lucknow. During the Indian Mutiny, he commanded a group of soldiers called 1st Hodson's Horse. Walter Grant died in India at the age of 39.