Sir Alexander Grant, 10th Baronet

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For the Canadian politician, see Alexander Grant (disambiguation).

Bust of Sir Alexander Grant by Charles McBride, Old College, University of Edinburgh

Sir Alexander Grant, 10th Baronet,

Bombay
.

Biography

Early life

He was born in New York, New York, the son of Sir Robert Innes Grant, 9th Baronet of Dalvey, and his wife, Judith Towers Battelle.[1] His early education took place in America and the family then returned to Britain.

He was educated at

Aristotelian philosophy, and in 1857 published an edition of The Ethics of Aristotle: Illustrated with Essays and Notes (4th ed. 1885) which became a standard text-book at Oxford. In 1855 he was one of the examiners for the Indian Civil Service, and in 1856 a public examiner in classics at Oxford.[2]

His father became 9th Baronet of Dalvey in 1854 on the death of his brother, Sir Alexander Grant, 8th Baronet. When his father died in 1856 Alexander became the 10th baronet.[1]

India

In 1859 he went to

Bombay University. In 1868 he was appointed a Member of the Bombay Legislative Council.[2]

Edinburgh and final years

In 1868, upon the death of Sir

Tercentenary Festival, celebrated in 1884, was the result of his enthusiasm. In that year he published The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years.[2]

In 1869 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being Sir Robert Christison. He twice served as Vice President of the Society: 1870 to 1874 and 1876 to 1881.[3]

From 1872 (following the Scottish Education Act of that year) he was a Member of the Board of Education, overseeing a huge programme of school construction across Scotland. He sat on the board until 1878, by which time the construction period was drawing to an end.[1]

From 1875 until his death in 1884 he served as the inaugural vice-president of the newly emerged conservationist body the Cockburn Association.[4]

He died at his Edinburgh address of 21 Lansdowne Crescent in the west end of the city.[5]

He is buried in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh.[6]

Honorary degrees

Family

In 1859 Grant was married to Susan Ferrier, daughter of James Frederick Ferrier. They had eight children. Their two first sons died in infancy. The six remaining children were:

Personal life

A keen golfer, Grant was a regular at the

Elie Golf Club and was caddied by a young Archie Simpson for many years, his favourite.[7]

Recognition

Grant is remembered at the University of Edinburgh to this day with two buildings named after him: Grant House in Pollock Halls of Residence, and the Grant Institute (Geology).

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Person Page".
  2. ^ a b c  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Grant, Sir Alexander". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 353.
  3. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X
    .
  4. ^ "Historic Cockburn Association Office-Bearers - The Cockburn Association".
  5. ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office directory 1883-84
  6. ISBN 090219884X. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Archie Simpson". Antiquegolfscotland.com. Retrieved 5 July 2014.

External links

  • Sir Alexander Grant, The Ethics of Aristotle: Illustrated with Essays and Notes, Vol.1, 4th ed. 1885 & Vol.2, 3rd ed. 1874
Academic offices
Preceded by
David Brewster
Edinburgh University Principals

1868–1884 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by
Baronet
(of Dalvey
)
1856–1884 		Succeeded by
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