Andrew Grant (MP)

Early life

Grant was born in Cassell’s Place, Leith Walk, Leith, the elder of twin sons of Rev James Grant and his wife Jessie Ann Campbell of Achindoon, Argyllshire. His father was minister of South Leith Parish church and later (1854) was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Director of Scottish Widows from 1840 to 1890. 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 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.

Political career

In 1878, Grant was invited to stand as Liberal candidate for Leith Burghs. 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.

Later life

In 1894 Grant rented from the Williamsons of Balgray and Lawers, the estate of Lawers, 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 Fife, 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.

Family

Grant married Elizabeth Ann Townsend of Glasgow in 1872. She was the daughter of a pharmaceuticals distiller from Glasgow. Grant had an exceedingly close relationship with his twin brother, Colin Campbell, W.S., afterwards, barrister-at-law, Middle Temple, who died suddenly on 30 April 1902.