GRANT, Sir FRANCIS, fourth son of Francis Grant of Kilgraston in Perthshire, was born in Edinburgh, 1803. He received his education at Harrow and at the university of Edinburgh, and was, it is said, originally intended for the Scottish bar, but soon aban doned all thoughts of legal honors, to follow his natural genius for painting. He studied drawing under Somerville, a local artist of some repute, and was enabled, by the kind ness of lord Elgin, to form his taste in that nobleman's gallery. A noble portrait by Valasquez is said to have exercised an especial influence over the young painter's future art career. His first picture was exhibited in 1834, when he at once took rank among the best portrait painters of the day, and was regarded as a worthy successor of the courtly Lawrence. His most famous works are those in which he has combined the likenesses of distinguished characters with scenes of English sports. The "Meet of ILK Stag hounds," painted in 1837 for lord Chesterfield, and containing no less than 46 portraits; the "Melton Float," executed for the duke of Wellington; and the " Cottesmore," for sir R. Sutton, are the best known in this class. Among his other paintings, may be
mentioned the equestrian portraits of the queen and prince Consort for Christ's hospital; the picture of the beautiful marchioness of Waterford; and those of lords Palmerston, Russell, Gough, Macaulay, Hardinge, etc. In 1842 Mr. Grant was elected associate, and in 1951, academician. In 1855 he received one of the three gold medals awarded to British artists at the Paris exhibition (for his "Meet of H.M. Stag-hounds"), and was also elected member of the Belgian academy. In 1866 the president's chair in the royal academy having become vacant, through the death of sir C. Eastlake, and neither sir E. Landseer nor Maclise being desirous of the post, Mr. Grant was elected in Feb. by 23 votes out of 29, and soon after received, according to ancient precedent, the honor of knighthood. In 1870 he received the degree of D.C.L. from Oxford. Sir Francis was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Farquharson of Invercauld; his second, a daughter of Mr. and Lady elizabeth Norman, by whom he had a numerous family. He died Oct., 1878.