Early life Grant was born at Edinburgh 1 August 1822. He was the eldest son of John Grant and the grandson of
James Grant of Corrimony (1743?–1835) advocate. From his grandfather, James Grant, the novelist inherited strong Jacobite proclivities, and he was connected by descent with the Veitches of Dawyck, Peeblesshire, and thus possessed a strain of border blood. His mother, who died when he was a child, belonged to the Watson family of Overmains, not unknown in the artistic annals of Scotland, and through her he was intimately related to
Sir Walter Scott, the Swintons of Swinton, and other eminent families. The father, Captain John Grant, of the
92nd Gordon Highlanders, had served with distinction throughout the Peninsular war. After his wife's death Captain Grant obtained a command in Newfoundland, whither he sailed in 1833, taking with him his three sons. After spending six years in American barracks Grant returned home with his father, who had resigned his command, in 1839. A year later (in 1840), through the influence of
Lord Hill, under whom Captain he had served in Spain, Grant was gazetted to an ensigncy in the
62nd Foot, and joined the provisional battalion at Chatham. He was soon appointed to command the depot, but in 1843 resigned his commission and entered the office of Mr. Rhind, architect, Edinburgh.
Writing career Grant became a skilled draughtsman, but other literary tastes were showing themselves, and he now devoted himself to novel writing, speedily becoming a prolific writer. His first novel,
The Romance of War, appeared in 1847. It owed its many anecdotes to Spain and the French war, which had been shared with him by his father, who described the adventures of the Gordon highlanders in the Peninsula. The accurate description of battles enhanced sales significantly. However, Grant only received £20 for the work (equivalent to £1818 in 2026). A sequel entitled
The Highlanders in Belgium soon followed. Then came
The Adventures of an Aide-de-Camp, equalled that of his first novel in popularity.
The Yellow Frigate,
Bothwell, and
Jane Seton. Many more followed, and from then to his death not a year passed without a publication. Quite often, there were two, and even three novels in varying stages of production. His last works of fiction were 'Love's Labour Won' (1888), dealing with incidents of Burmese dacoity, and
Playing with Fire (1887), a story of the war in the Soudan. John Gant wrote fifty-six novels. His works typically feature fast-moving plots, energetic prose, and sustained dialogue. His novels set in Scottish historical contexts draw on identifiable historical material and attempt to reconstruct past events and settings. These works depict Scottish and Border figures in ways that emphasise risk-taking behaviour, loyalty, and martial identity. A charge of plagiarism was levelled against Grant owing to his having incorporated (apparently without acknowledgment) several passages verbatim from a book of travels and campaigning in one of his novels. However, Grant seems to have remained within acceptable limits when using historical writers as sources for the settings and details in his novels. Finally, Grant produced a substantial body of historical writing, with a primary focus on the history of his native country.
Other activities In 1852 Grant founded the
National Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights. Acting as secretary, one of his main tasks seems to have been defending its policies while facing ridicule by publications such as
Punch magazine and several newspapers. He was an energetic supporter of the volunteer movement, where he was one of the first to join its ranks. Grant was consulted by the War Office on military matters, including issues related to the territorial system. Certain proposals attributed to him were implemented, including modifications to British Army uniform facings. He was also consulted on the proposed plans for the alterations at Edinburgh Castle.
Family Grant married the eldest daughter of James Browne, LL.D.. and had two sons: James, who died before his father, and Roderick, later a
Roman Catholic priest. Grant himself had embraced the Roman Catholic faith in 1875. He died 5 May 1887 in London, at the age of sixty-five. His popularity had dwindled before his death. He was modest and retiring, genial, patriotic, and of strong religious leanings. Grant left an estate worth around £490 which would be worth around £56,413.82 in 2026. ==Bibliography==