James Grant
BIRTH
1720
Ballindalloch, Scotland
DEATH
April 13, 1806
Ballindalloch, Scotland
FAMILY
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Grant, James
(1720-1806)
James Grant, 4th of Ballindalloch was a British Army officer who served as a major general during the American War of Independence. He served as Governor of East Florida from 1763 to 1771, and between 1773 and 1802 he had seats in the House of Commons.
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Places | Image | Address | GPS | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Battle of Brooklyn Marker | Belt Parkway, New York, New York, 11209, USA | MARKER | ||
Fort Box Well Marker | 391 Pacific St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 | MARKER | ||
Fort Stirling Marker | 154 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | MARKER | ||
Germantown Market Square Marker | 5501 Market Square, Philadelphia, PA 19144 | MARKER | ||
Howard's Inn Marker-Jamaica Pass | 1605 Bushwick Avenue, New York, New York, 11207, USA | MARKER | ||
Milestone Park Marker | 18th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214 | MARKER | ||
Red Lion Inn Marker | Martense Lane, New York, New York, 11232, USA | MARKER | ||
Rockaway Footpath-Jamaica Pass Marker | Vanderveer Street, New York, New York, 11207, USA | MARKER |
DIED:
Ballindalloch, Scotland
Apr 13, 1806
Grant was born on the family estate of Ballindalloch in Banffshire in the Northeast of Scotland. He began his military career by purchasing a commission as captain in the Royal Scots on 24 October 1744. The regiment was shipped to the Continent and Grant fought with them in the Battle of Fontenoy during the War of the Austrian Succession. By 1757, Grant was a major of the 77th Regiment of Foot, fighting in the French and Indian War in the British Thirteen Colonies. In 1758, he led part of the regiment in an expedition led by General John Forbes. On this expedition, he became acquainted with others who would also play larger parts in the American Revolutionary War: George Washington, Francis Marion, and Hugh Mercer, among others. He also gained a contempt for the colonial or militia troops that would colour his later views.
By the summer of 1775, Grant returned to active service with the rank of colonel. He was ordered to return to North America. He arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, on 30 July. In the aftermath of the Battle of Bunker Hill, he urged General Gage to move the British troops to New York City, so that they would have room to manoeuvre. His advice was ignored at the time. Grant was a supernumerary until December when he was made colonel and commander of the 55th Regiment of Foot.
As the British tried to gain control of the major port city in the New York Campaign, Grant had become Howe's primary planning officer. He developed two plans, each designed to both gain control of territory and to deal a serious or fatal blow to the Continental Army. These resulted in the Battle of Brooklyn, and Battle of White Plains. Both of these were British victories, as was the overall campaign, but General Washington avoided the death blow to his troops each time.
Finally, Grant was shipped off to the West Indies. On 27 October 1778 he led a successful expeditionary force to capture the French West Indian island of St. Lucia. A superior French garrison, surrendered on 28 December, at the Battle of La Vigie.