Grant, SIR ALEXANDER,

Grant, SIR ALEXANDER, of Dalvey, was born at New York in 1826, and represented one of the oldest branches of the Clan Grant. Educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford, he graduated B.A. in 1848, and was elected to an Oriel fellowship. Here he edited the Ethics of Aristotle (1857), with English notes, a work which still maintains a reputation by its suggestive preliminary essays. He succeeded as baronet in 1856, was appointed inspector of schools at Madras in 1858, and became professor of History in Elphinstone College there; then its principal; and afterwards vice-chancellor of Elgin College, Bombay, in all which positions he did much to promote the interests of education in India. On the death of Sir David Brewster he was in 1868 chosen as principal of the university of Edinburgh, an office which he enjoyed for sixteen years, during which took place the inauguration of the new medical school, and the tercentenary celebration of the university. His Story of the University of Edinburgh (1884) was published in connection with the latter event. Earlier works were Aristotle and Xenophon, in Blackwood's 'Ancient Classics,' and Recess Studies (1870), a volume of essays written by various scholars. The universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow conferred upon him the degree of LL.D., and Oxford that of D.C.L. He married, in 1859, Susan, daughter of Professor Ferrier of St Andrews, and died suddenly on 1st December 1884.