| Clan Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clann Grannd[1] | |||
 Crest: An image of a burning hill. | |||
| Motto | Stand Fast[2] | ||
| Slogan | "Craig Elachie!" | ||
| Profile | |||
| District | Strathspey,[2]Glen Urquhart,[2]Glenmoriston[2] andLoch Ness.[2] | ||
| Plant badge | Pine[2] | ||
| Pipe music | Stand fast Craigellachie[2] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| The Rt. Hon. Michael Grant of Grant | |||
| The 7thLord Strathspey | |||
| Historic seat | Castle Grant[3] | ||
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Clan Grant is aHighlandScottish clan, with one main branch, Grant of Grant, and several cadet branches, such asGrant of Glenmoriston.
The Chiefs of Clan Grant descended fromNormans who arrived in Scotland during the medieval period, bearing the French namele Grand ('the tall', 'large').[5][6][7] The first Grants to appear in Scotland are recorded in the 13th century when they acquired the lands ofStratherrick. Sir Laurence le Grant, son of Gregory le Grant, was Sheriff ofInverness.[7][8]
During theWars of Scottish Independence, Clan Grant were supporters ofWilliam Wallace, and John and Randolph Grant were captured at theBattle of Dunbar (1296).[7] The Clan Grant later supportedRobert the Bruce in competition for the Scottish Crown.[7] The victory of Robert the Bruce confirmed the Grants in their lands of Strathspey, where they became established Highland chiefs.[7]
The acquisition ofCastle Grant occurred during the 14th century. Originally aClan Comyn stronghold, tradition holds that the castle was taken from the Comyns by a combined force of Grants and MacGregors.[3]
The next available reference is of Duncan le Grant in 1434, and later, Sir Duncan Grant of Freuchie (Castle Grant), who inherited land inDulnain valley in upper Speyside from his mother, Matilda of Glencarnie. Her family had partially owned it since 1180, when the Crown gave Kinveachy (approximately ten miles southwest of Castle Grant) toGille Brigte, Earl of Strathearn.
By the 16th century the clan and its chief had become powerful enough to play a part in national politics.[9] Their main allies being theClan Gordon, whose chief was the powerfulEarl of Huntly.[9]
In 1535 James Grant, 3rd Laird of Freuchie was made responsible for the policing ofStrathspey.[10]
In 1580 Robert Grant, champion of the Grants, defeated an English champion at ajousting tournament while on an embassy in England.[10] Towards the end of the 16th century the Grants began to quarrel with their old allies the Gordons, over religion.[11] The Grants being Protestant and the Gordons being Catholic.[11]
In 1586 the Earl of Huntly allied with the Clan MacDonald andClan Cameron who both had a history of raiding the Grant's lands.[11] The Grants responded by bringing in theClan Gregor but they came off worse in a clash at Ballindalloch.[11] By the late 16th century, Clan Grant had become an important clan in theScottish Highlands. During this period, the clan's actions resulted in the murder of theEarl of Moray and the defeat of theEarl of Argyll at theBattle of Glenlivet in 1594. The Chief of Clan Grant ordered his men to retreat as soon as the action began. This treacherous move led to the defeat ofClan Campbell of Argyll.[12]
In 1613 KingJames VI of Scotland wrote toJohn Grant of Freuchie chief of Clan Grant complaining that he was sheltering outlaws from the Clan MacGregor.[13] The chief responded by sending the notorious Alistair MacAllister MacGregor toEdinburgh.[13] However, the King was not satisfied and in 1615 fined Grant 16,000 merks for protecting the MacGregors.[13]
During the 1639–1651Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Captain David Grant led his forces in support of the Covenanter forces against the Royalist forces at theBattle of Tippermuir in 1644. In October 1645,Clan Cameron raided the lands of the Clan Grant.[14] The Grants gave chase catching the Camerons in theBattle of the Braes of Strathdearn, where the Cameron men were defeated and many clansmen were slain.[14]
In 1651James Grant, 7th of Freuchie, 18th Chief, led the clan as aCovenanter and suffered much as a result. He later supported theMarquis of Montrose. Also, an alliance between Grant and theEarl of Huntly led to the annihilation of theClan Farquharson.
In 1689Ludovic Grant, 8th of Freuchie, 19th Chief, referred to as the "Highland King", was a supporter ofWilliam of Orange and later also supported theHanoverian succession.[15] Led by their Chief, the majority of the Clan were steadfastLoyalists. TheGrants of Glenmoriston however were committed Jacobites throughout the period, notably fighting at theBattle of Killiecrankie in July 1689.[16] Clan Grant provided the bulk of the Williamite force underSir Thomas Livingstone, that defeated the Jacobites at theBattle of Cromdale in May 1690.[16]
During theJacobite rising of 1715 the main part of the Clan Grant supported the British Government.[16] In 1715 the Laird of Grant withdrew his forces which led to the defeat of government forces at theSkirmish of Alness.[17] However, soon after the Clan Grant helped retake Inverness from the Jacobites duringSiege of Inverness (1715).[18] In 1715 the fighting force of the Clan Grant was given as 850 men by GeneralGeorge Wade.[15] At theBattle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, Grants fought on both sides. The British government forces won the battle with many of the Jacobites surrendering to GeneralAlexander Grant, 2nd of Grant, 20th Chief.
General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 800 men.[19] In 1725, sixIndependent Highland Companies (Black Watch) were formed to support the Government. One from Clan Grant, one fromClan Fraser of Lovat, one fromClan Munro and three fromClan Campbell. In 1739, ten Independent Highland Companies were formed into the43rd Highlanders (Black Watch) regiment.[20]
During the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Chief of Clan Grant again supported the British Government, as did most of the Clan.[21] However once again he withdrew his troops which again led to the defeat of government forces, this time at theBattle of Inverurie (1745).[22]
One branch of the Clan Grant, theGrants of Glenmoriston, sided with the Jacobites during the '45. They fought at theBattle of Prestonpans in 1745 and are credited with winning the day due to their timely reinforcement. The Grant of Glenmoriston branch also fought as Jacobites at theBattle of Culloden in 1746 under the command of theDuke of Perth. Eighty-four Grants of Glenmoriston were captured at Culloden and were transported toBarbados, in violation of their terms of surrender, where they were sold as indentured servants.[15]
At theSiege of Inverness (1746) the commander of the British-Hanoverian Government forces was Major George Grant, whilst amongst the Jacobite commanders was Colonel James Grant.[23]
Clan Grant was one of the few clans not to be affected by theHighland Clearances. The"Good Sir James" Grant (Clan Chief from 1773 to 1811) built the town ofGrantown-on-Spey for the express purpose of providing for his clansmen to keep them from having to emigrate. While other Highlanders were emigrating in the face of the changes that were sweeping away the old Highland way of life, Sir James Grant was busy building an entire town, building schools, mills, factories, a hospital, an orphanage, etc. to provide for his Clan. Grantown-on-Spey is a monument to Sir James's loyalty to his clansmen.
During the later part of the 18th century two regiments were raised from the Clan Grant. Firstly the "Strathspey Fencibles" (otherwise known as the "Grant Fencibles") in 1793 and the "97th Regiment of Foot (Inverness-shire Highlanders)" (or "Strathspey Regiment") in 1794. The first was disbanded in 1799 and the second was used as marines on board Lord Howe's fleet and later drafted into other regiments in 1795.[15]
On hisworld tour in 1877,Ulysses S. Grant came to Scotland and he was accepted as a returning member of Clan Grant.[24]
Duthil Old Parish Church and Churchyard, which lies just outside the village ofDuthil, Inverness-shire, now serves as aClan Grant Centre. The site includes many memorials to clan members, such asField Marshal SirPatrick Grant,GCB GCMG (1804–1895), as well as a mausoleum of theEarls of Seafield.
During a visit toWinnipeg, Canada in July 2012, the chief of Clan Grant declared thatMétis leaderCuthbert Grant was a member of the clan. This created a new sept of Clan Grant in Canada.[25] Visitors came from as far away as Scotland as well as from the Yukon, Montana and Manitoba where Grant descendants settled to take part in events arranged for Lord Strathspey's time in Canada.[26]
The current Chief of Clan Grant is theRt Hon The Lord Strathspey (Sir Michael Grant of Grant,Bt, 7thBaron Strathspey, 34th hereditaryClan chief of Clan Grant).
The burning hill crest represents "Craig Elachie", the rallying point for the Grants. When signal fires were lit upon the summit of Craig Elachie, or "The Rock of Alarm", members of the clan would gather there in order to organise for an attack or defence.
The arms of Baron Strathspey as matriculated by the 32nd Chief in 1950 are shown above : Gules three antique crowns Or in the dexter canton Argent a saltire Azure surmounted of an inescutcheon Or charged with a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counter flory being the addition of a Nova Scotia as a baronet.
