Andrew Grant (1757–1836) was a senior Scottish minister in the 19th century who became Chaplain in Ordinary toKing George III,George IV andWilliam IV in Scotland andDean of the Chapel Royal. He wasModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1808.
He was born at Limepotts nearScone, Perthshire the son of Margaret Henderson and her husband, David Grant. He was baptised on 4 June 1757.[1]
He studied at theUniversity of St Andrews and licensed to preach as a Church of Scotland minister by the Presbytery of Perth in July 1781. He then went toEdinburgh to assist the elderlyRev George Wishart in theTron Kirk. He left Edinburgh in September 1784 when he was ordained as minister ofPortmoak on the north shore ofLoch Leven.[1]
In 1802 he translated toKilmarnock Parish Church. He received an honoraryDoctor of Divinity from St Andrews University in 1807 and in 1808 was elected Moderator of the General Assembly, the highest position in the Scottish Church. During his year in office he translated toCanongate Kirk inEdinburgh in place ofRev Robert Walker. In October 1810 he translated toTrinity College Church around 200m east of Canongate. In September 1812 the town council invited him to take overSt Andrews Church on George Street serving the fast-growingNew Town and he moved to this new role in January 1813 replacingRev David Ritchie. He was then living at 28 James Square, east of the church.[2]
From 1817 to 1821William Jardine came to lodge with him at his house at James Square, while studying at theUniversity of Edinburgh. Jardine later became a renowned naturalist.[3]
His Royal service is extraordinary, beingChaplain in Ordinary to three successive monarchs:George III,George IV andWilliam IV. He was also madeDean of the Chapel Royal in 1820. From 1827 to 1835 he was joint collector of the funds for the Ministers' Widows' Fund and from 1835 was sole collector.[1] By 1825 he was living at 21 Northumberland Street.[4]
He moved to 68 Great King Street in his final years[5] and died there on 2 July 1836.[1]
In August 1793 he married Agnes Willis daughter of Rev George Willis ofLeslie, Fife. Their children included:[1]
His portrait byRobert Moore Hodgetts is held by theScottish National Portrait Gallery.[6]