Sir Alexander Grant, 10th Baronet

For the Canadian politician, see Alexander Grant (disambiguation).

File:Bust of Sir Alexander Grant by Charles McBride, Old College, University of Edinburgh.jpg

Bust of Sir Alexander Grant by Charles McBride, Old College, University of Edinburgh

Sir Alexander Grant, 10th Baronet LLD FRSE (23 September 1826 – 30 November 1884) was a British educationalist and principal of the University of Edinburgh. He was born in New York and died in Edinburgh.

Biography

Early life

He was born in New York the son of Sir Robert Innes Grant, 7th Baronet of Dalvey.

He was educated at Harrow, before becoming a student in Balliol College at Oxford. He later held a fellowship at Oriel from 1849 to 1860. He made a special study of the Aristotelian philosophy, and in 1857 published an edition of the The Ethics of Aristotle: Illustrated with Essays and Notes (4th ed. 1885) which became a standard text-book at Oxford. In 1855 he was one of the examiners for the Indian Civil Service, and in 1856 a public examiner in classics at Oxford.

In 1856, following the death of his older brother, he succeeded to his baronetcy, becoming 10th Baronet.

India

In 1859 he went to Madras with Sir Charles Trevelyan, and was appointed inspector of schools; the next year he moved to Bombay, to fill the post of Professor of History and Political Economy in the Elphinstone College. Of this he became Principal in 1862; and, a year later, vice-chancellor of Bombay University, a post he held from 1863 to 1865 and again from 1865 to 1868. In 1865 he took upon himself also the duties of Director of Public Instruction for Bombay Presidency. In 1868 he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council.

Edinburgh and Final Years

In 1868, upon the death of Sir David Brewster, he was appointed Principal of Edinburgh University. From that time till his death his energies were entirely devoted to the well-being of the University. The institution of the medical school in the University was almost solely due to his initiative; and the Tercentenary Festival, celebrated in 1884, was the result of his wisely directed enthusiasm. In that year he published The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years.

He is buried in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh.

Honorary degrees

• 1865 – Honorary LLD, Edinburgh University
• 1880 – Honorary DCL, Oxford University
• 1882 – Honorary Fellow, Oriel College

Personal life and legacy

A keen golfer, Grant was a regular at the Elie Golf Club and was caddied by a young Archie Simpson for many years, his favourite.

Grant is remembered at the University of Edinburgh to this day with two buildings named after him: Grant House in Pollock Halls of Residence, and the Grant Institute (Geology).

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

External links

• Classic Encyclopedia article – based on Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th Edition
• Online Encyclopedia article – based on Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th Edition
• Sir Alexander Grant, The Ethics of Aristotle: Illustrated with Essays and Notes, Vol.1, 4th ed. 1885 & Vol.2, 3rd ed. 1874

Academic offices
Preceded by David Brewster	Edinburgh University Principals 1868–1884	Succeeded by Sir William Muir