GRANT, William (1701-64), of Prestongrange, Haddington.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

18 Feb. 1747 - Nov. 1754

Family and Education

bap. 4 May 1701, 2nd s. of Sir Francis Grant (Lord Cullen S.C.J.), 1st Bt., of Cullen of Buchan, Banff, by Jean, da. of Rev. William Meldrum, Tolbooth Kirk, Edinburgh. educ. Edinburgh Univ.; M. Temple 1721; adv. 1722. m. c.1729, Grizel, da. and h. of Rev. John Miller of Neilston, Renfrew, 4da.

Offices Held

Procurator for Church of Scotland and principal clerk of assembly 1731-46; solicitor-gen. for Scotland 1737-42; commr. for fisheries and manufactures 1738; lord adv. Feb. 1746-Aug. 1754; raised to Scottish bench as Lord Prestongrange 14 Nov. 1754; commr. for annexed estates 1754.

Biography

Grant was a hard working lawyer, of ‘virtuous integrity’,1 owing his political advancement to Archibald, Duke of Argyll, whose personal affection he retained despite his attachment to the interests of his clan and kinsmen, whom Argyll disliked.

In July 1754 Newcastle, anxious to see Robert Dundas as lord advocate, secured for Grant promotion to the Scottish bench, and on the appointment being formally gazetted in November, Grant vacated his seat in the House.2 In 1760 he unsuccessfully pressed his claims to the presidency of the court of session in opposition to Dundas, by then his son-in-law.3

He died 23 May 1764.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Edith Lady Haden-Guest

Notes

  • 1. Brunton Haig, Senators of College of Justice, 519-20; Ramsay of Ochtertyre, Scotland Scotsmen, i. 121-7.
  • 2. Add. 32736, ff. 225, 276.
  • 3. Add. 32903, f. 77.