Andrew Grant (MP)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Grant was a Scottish merchant and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1885.
, Leith, the elder of twin sons of Rev. Dr James Grant of Edinburgh and his wife Jessie Ann Campbell of Achindoon, Argyllshire. His father was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1854. Grant was educated at Leith High School Edinburgh and Edinburgh University.
Grant returned to Britain in 1866, establishing himself in business, in Liverpool, until his retirement, at the age of forty-two, in 1873. In 1875 took the Invermay
estate at Forteviot
, Perthshire, for his first country seat. Invermay was one of the many country estates of Lord Clinton, Baron Fortescue.
Grant was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
.
. He was elected Member of Parliament
for Leith Burghs at a by-election in 1878, holding the seat for the Liberals, with a majority of 3141. In the General Election of 1880 he was returned unopposed. He represented the constituency until he retired in 1885. He was a highly respected politician, who much considered the well being of his constituents.
, an early 19th century house which had been remodelled and extended to the design of Richard Crighton. Early in 1901, the Grants took Pitcorthie in Fifeshire, a large and elegant mansion built for George Simson of Brunton and Pitcorthie, circa 1820 and which is particularly similar in style to both Camperdown House, Dundee and Balbirnie, Markinch. Grant gave £10,000 towards the new building for the Edinburgh College of Art
constructed between 1907 and 1909.
Grant died at Pitcorthie House, on 23 October 1924 and was buried at Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh (Compartment “B” Number 7) next to the memorials to his parents and to his brother, Colin. His published Will in respect of his £607,000 unsettled estate, revealed that he had left in the region of £350,000 for the foundation of what he stipulated was to be known as The Andrew Grant Bequest, to benefit students of Edinburgh College of Art, in the form of travelling scholarships. The Bequest was activated in 1930, with the death of Grant’s widow, Elizabeth and has a fund of over £3.5 million today.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1885.
Early life
Grant was born in Cassell’s Place, Leith WalkLeith Walk
Leith Walk is one of the longest streets in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stretches from The Foot Of Leith Walk at the junction of Great Junction Street and Constitution Street to the junction with London Road, it then links to the east end of Princes Street via Leith Street...
, Leith, the elder of twin sons of Rev. Dr James Grant of Edinburgh and his wife Jessie Ann Campbell of Achindoon, Argyllshire. His father was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
in 1854. Grant was educated at Leith High School Edinburgh and Edinburgh University.
Business career
In 1854 Grant went to China where he lived for four years and then in 1858 went to Bombay where he joined the firm of Campbell, Mitchell & Co. He became chairman of the company and was in business there as a merchant until 1866. He was a co-founder and Fellow of the University of Bombay, twice Chairman of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, founder member and first Chairman of the Royal Bank of India.Grant returned to Britain in 1866, establishing himself in business, in Liverpool, until his retirement, at the age of forty-two, in 1873. In 1875 took the Invermay
Invermay
Invermay is a diffuse settlement in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is situated approximately 2 km southeast of Forteviot on the Water of May, some 8 km southwest of Perth.An early medieval freestanding cross was once located at Invermay...
estate at Forteviot
Forteviot
Forteviot is a village in Strathearn, Scotland on the south bank of the River Earn between Dunning and Perth. It lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross...
, Perthshire, for his first country seat. Invermay was one of the many country estates of Lord Clinton, Baron Fortescue.
Grant was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
.
Political career
In 1878, Grant was invited to stand as Liberal candidate for Leith BurghsLeith Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
-References:...
. He was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Leith Burghs at a by-election in 1878, holding the seat for the Liberals, with a majority of 3141. In the General Election of 1880 he was returned unopposed. He represented the constituency until he retired in 1885. He was a highly respected politician, who much considered the well being of his constituents.
Later life
In 1894 Grant rented from the Williamsons of Balgray and Lawers, the estate of LawersLawers
Lawers is a village situated in rural Perthshire, Scotland. It lies on the banks of Loch Tay and at the foot of Ben Lawers. It was once part of a vibrant farming industry in the area....
, an early 19th century house which had been remodelled and extended to the design of Richard Crighton. Early in 1901, the Grants took Pitcorthie in Fifeshire, a large and elegant mansion built for George Simson of Brunton and Pitcorthie, circa 1820 and which is particularly similar in style to both Camperdown House, Dundee and Balbirnie, Markinch. Grant gave £10,000 towards the new building for the Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art is an art school in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design disciplines for over two thousand students....
constructed between 1907 and 1909.
Grant died at Pitcorthie House, on 23 October 1924 and was buried at Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh (Compartment “B” Number 7) next to the memorials to his parents and to his brother, Colin. His published Will in respect of his £607,000 unsettled estate, revealed that he had left in the region of £350,000 for the foundation of what he stipulated was to be known as The Andrew Grant Bequest, to benefit students of Edinburgh College of Art, in the form of travelling scholarships. The Bequest was activated in 1930, with the death of Grant’s widow, Elizabeth and has a fund of over £3.5 million today.