Grimes was born in
Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
Leicestershire, the son of William Grimes and his wife Mary (née Douglas). After arriving in Australia in 1849 on board the
Chaseley, he took up farming at
Kurilpa with his brother
Samuel in 1857 before moving to
Coongoon at
Fairfield where he grew
arrowroot and sugar in 1863. On 16 June 1863 Grimes married Mary Rogers (died 1919) and together had a son and five daughters. Grimes died in January 1910 ==Public career==