Alexander Grant
Encyclopedia
Alexander Grant was a Royal Navy
officer, businessman, and politician in Upper Canada
. During his service with the Royal Navy
Grant saw action in the Seven Years' War
before becoming a naval superintendent. He then embarked on a career in the ship building industry before losing much of his wealth during the American Revolution
. Grant recovered, however, and rose to prominence in civil society, becoming the administrator of Upper Canada in 1805.
, during the Seven Years' War
. Grant became a naval superintendent in 1763, with his headquarters on Navy Island
(in the Niagara River
), before moving to Detroit, Michigan
. His headquarters again changed, every winter, during which time the regiment was in New York City
, up to 1774.
, essentially selling them to himself at a considerable profit. He built a commercial empire by also selling or renting ships to merchants and this was initially solidified during the American Revolution
during which he was given military command of most of the Great Lakes.
However, in the course of the revolution Grant lost much of his income with the loss of 12,000 acres (49 km²) of land he owned in New York
, and the end of his participation in private shipping.
in 1786 and, to a succession of governmental and political positions (in both Upper Canada
and Lower Canada
), he joined the Executive Council of Upper Canada
under governor John Graves Simcoe
as well as the Legislative Council
. In 1799, Grant became a deputy superintendent of Indian Affairs.
In August 1805, Grant became administrator of Upper Canada, upon the death of Lieutenant-Governor Peter Hunter
, and continued Hunter's policies until a new lieutenant governor, Francis Gore
, arrived from Britain, in August 1806.
Grant died in 1813 in Detroit and was buried on the other side of the Detroit River in Sandwich, now Windsor, Ontario
.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer, businessman, and politician in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. During his service with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Grant saw action in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
before becoming a naval superintendent. He then embarked on a career in the ship building industry before losing much of his wealth during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Grant recovered, however, and rose to prominence in civil society, becoming the administrator of Upper Canada in 1805.
Naval career
Grant entered the Royal Navy in 1755 and saw service in North America, on Lake ChamplainLake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. Grant became a naval superintendent in 1763, with his headquarters on Navy Island
Navy Island
Navy Island is a small island in the Niagara River in the province of Ontario, managed by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site of Canada. It is located about upstream from Horseshoe Falls, and has an area of roughly...
(in the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
), before moving to Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. His headquarters again changed, every winter, during which time the regiment was in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, up to 1774.
Merchant career
He began to build his own vesselsWatercraft
A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...
, essentially selling them to himself at a considerable profit. He built a commercial empire by also selling or renting ships to merchants and this was initially solidified during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
during which he was given military command of most of the Great Lakes.
However, in the course of the revolution Grant lost much of his income with the loss of 12,000 acres (49 km²) of land he owned in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and the end of his participation in private shipping.
Civil career
Grant recovered, however, and rose to prominence in civil society, being appointed a justice of the peaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1786 and, to a succession of governmental and political positions (in both Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
), he joined the Executive Council of Upper Canada
Executive Council of Upper Canada
The Executive Council of Upper Canada had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the Legislative Assembly but were usually members of the Legislative Council. Members were...
under governor John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
as well as the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
The Legislative Council of Upper Canada was the upper house governing the province of Upper Canada. Modelled after the British House of Lords, it was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was specified that the council should consist of at least seven members. Members were appointed for...
. In 1799, Grant became a deputy superintendent of Indian Affairs.
In August 1805, Grant became administrator of Upper Canada, upon the death of Lieutenant-Governor Peter Hunter
Peter Hunter
Lieutenant-General Peter Hunter was a British Army officer and colonial administrator. He was eldest son to John Hunter laird of Knapp and Euphemia Jack of Longforgan, Perthshire, Scotland....
, and continued Hunter's policies until a new lieutenant governor, Francis Gore
Francis Gore
Francis Gore, was a British officer and British colonial administrator.Gore was commissioned into the 44th Foot in 1787, but transferred to the 54th Foot in 1794 and the 17th Light Dragoons in 1795. He retired with the rank of major and then became Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada from 1806 to...
, arrived from Britain, in August 1806.
Grant died in 1813 in Detroit and was buried on the other side of the Detroit River in Sandwich, now Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
.