Constituency Dates
Inverness-shire 1722 – 1741
Elgin Burghs 1741 – 16 Jan. 1747
Family and Education
b. 28 July 1679, 3rd but 2nd surv. s. of Ludovick Grant of Freuchie and Grant, M.P. [S.], and yr. bro. of Alexander Grant. educ. Elgin. m. 29 Jan. 1702, Anne, da. and h. of Sir Humphrey Colquhoun, 5th Bt., of Luss, Dunbarton, 6s. 8da. suc. fa.-in-law as 6th Bt. 1718, and bro. Alexander 1719.
Address
Main residence: Grant, Elgin.
biography text

James Grant became heir of entail to his father-in-law’s estate and baronetcy by a patent executed in 1704. In 1708, upon succeeding to the baronetcy, he became, in accordance with the patent, Sir James Colquhoun of Luss. But in the following year, when he succeeded to the Grant estates, the Colquhoun inheritance passed by the entail to his second son Ludovick, whereupon he reverted to his family name of Grant, retaining the title of baronet.

For nearly 20 years Grant was returned for Inverness-shire, on his family’s interest, consistently voting with the Administration. His only reported speech was made on 5 May 1732, asking for leniency for his relative, Sir Archibald Grant.1HMC Egmont Diary, i. 269. Described in 1734 as the ‘hereditary commoner of Inverness-shire’, he denied an allegation that he was ‘enslaving the shire’ by creating voters, observing: ‘I always rely entirely on the gentlemen of the shire for their help and assistance’.2Sir W. Fraser, Chiefs of Grant, i. 378; Culloden Pprs. 133-4. In a list of placemen who voted for the Spanish convention in 1739 he is shown as enjoying ‘a grant of duties in Scotland’, his eldest son, ‘a commissioner of police, his second son captain in the army and his brother captain of an independent company’.3Gent. Mag. 1739, p. 305. In 1741, having made over his estates to his son, Ludovick, subject to the payment to him of an allowance of £600 p.a.,4Sir James Grant to Ludovick Grant, 8 Jan. 1736, Seafield Coll. box 48, SRO. he transferred to Elgin Burghs, continuing to vote with the Government. During the 1745 rebellion he remained in London, advising his son ‘to stay at home, take care of his country and join no party’. He sent two memorials to Henry Pelham, advising the formation of an army on a clan basis from among the loyal clans, and forwarded a letter from the Young Pretender unopened to Lord Tweeddale, the secretary of state for Scotland.5Scots Peerage, vii. 484; Chiefs of Grant, i. 387, 389.

He died in London 16 Jan. 1747.

Author
J.M.S.
Volume
Commons 1715-1754
Notes
  • 1. HMC Egmont Diary, i. 269.
  • 2. Sir W. Fraser, Chiefs of Grant, i. 378; Culloden Pprs. 133-4.
  • 3. Gent. Mag. 1739, p. 305.
  • 4. Sir James Grant to Ludovick Grant, 8 Jan. 1736, Seafield Coll. box 48, SRO.
  • 5. Scots Peerage, vii. 484; Chiefs of Grant, i. 387, 389.