pp156–172: From Sir Lewis-Alexander Grant to Captain Sir James Ogilvie-Grant

XIX. 1. SIR LEWIS ALEXANDER GRANT, BARONET,

He gave early signs of great promise. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1783. In the year 1788 he was elected provost of Forres and in January 1789 was called to the Scots Bar, Ibid II pp 501-4, 507, 508. In 1790 he was elected MP for Morayshire. Unfortunately in the summer of 1791 his health began to fail, and rest from study and parliamentary labours not availing to restore him, he was compelled to retire from public life. His brother, Colonel Francis William Grant, was appointed curator of his estates on his succession to them. [156] He succeeded his father in the Baronetcy and Grant estates on the 18th February 1811, and on the death of his cousin James, seventh Earl of Findlater and fourth Earl of Seafield, without issue, on 5th October 1811, Sir Lewis, as heir general, succeeded to his estates, with the titles of EARL OF SEAFIELD, VISCOUNT REIDHAVEN, VISCOUNT SEAFIELD, and BARON OGILVIE OF DESKFORD AND CULLEN. He then assumed the surname of Ogilvie in addition to his own. He seems to have stayed at different residences on his property, but chiefly with his sisters at Grant Lodge in Elgin. He died, unmarried, at Cullen House, on 26th October 1840 aged 73 and was succeeded by his younger brother,

[Graphic: signature of SIR LEWIS ALEXANDER GRANT OF GRANT, FIFTH EARL OF SEAFIELD]
[Facing page 156: Graphic: Arms of Ogilvie-Grant, Earl of Seafield]

XIX. 2. COLONEL SIR FRANCIS WILLIAM GRANT, BARONET,

He held the office of Curator to his brother, Lewis Alexander, Earl of Seafield, for twenty-nine years. During this period and after his own accession to the title and estates, which took place 26th October 1840, he not only helped and encouraged his tenants to improve their holdings, but he was known as the largest planter of trees in Britain in the last century, the annals of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland recording in 1847 that, at that date, 31,686,482 young trees, Scotch fir, larch and hardwood, had been planted under the Earl’s direction over an area of 8,223 acres. On this account the Highland Society awarded Lord Seafield their gold medal. He also not only embellished and beautified the grounds of Cullen House, but built an addition to the house itself. He improved the harbours of Cullen and Portsoy. He is said to have spent on the latter £17,000. He removed the town of Cullen, which in old days was in close proximity to Cullen House, down to its present situation by the sea, and at the same time he greatly improved it’s appearance.

His benevolence and public spirit were acknowledged by the grants of freedom of the Burghs of Cullen, Kintore, Forres, Elgin, Nairn, Banff, and Kirkcudbright, Burgess Acts, etc., of various dates from 1795-1817, at Cullen House. He had been stationed in the [159] latter place with the Fraser Fencibles in 1795. While at Gibraltar in 1801 he was raised to the degree of Master Mason in connection with the “Mother Lodge of St John, No. 24.”

On 5th August 1841, the first year after his succession to the earldom, he was chosen one of the sixteen representative peers of Scotland, a position he held until his death in 1853. In politics he was a Conservative. In the early part of Sir Robert Peel’s career he was a warm supporter of his, and adhered to him in 1829 when others receded. It was proposed at that time to honour him with a peerage, and the patent was prepared, when the Ministry came to a sudden close.

His Lordship died at Cullen House after a short illness on the 30th July 1853. The funeral took place at Duthil on the 3rd August, and was very largely attended by a people who, deeply attached to him, mourned his loss.

[Graphic: signature of FRANCIS WILLIAM, SIXTH EARL OF SEAFIELD.]

Lord Seafield was twice married. His first wife was Mary Anne, only daughter of John Charles Dunn of Higham House, Sussex, the marriage taking place 10th May 1811. She was born 6th March 1795, died 27th May 1840, before the accession of her husband to the earldom, and was buried at Duthil. His Lordship married, secondly, on 17th August 1843, Louisa Emma, second [160] daughter of Robert George Maunsell, Co Limerick, "Burke’s Peerage,” 1908, article Seafield, p. 1543. By this lady he had no issue. She survived him, and married, secondly, 31st January 1856, Major Godfrey Hugh Massy, of the 19th Foot, who died 4th June 1862, and thirdly, 5th July 1864, Lord Henry Loftus, fifth son of the second Marquis of Ely, from whom she was divorced. He died 28th February 1880 and she died 2nd August 1884 aged 66.

By his first wife, Lord Seafield had a family of six sons and one daughter. The sons were

I. JAMES GRANT, born 16th April 1812, at London, died there 15th March 1815, "Chiefs,” I, p. 482.

XX. 1. II. FRANCIS WILLIAM,

styled Master of Grant, born 5th October 1814 Ibid, I pp. 483-486. He was MP for Inverness-shire from 1838 till 11th March 1840, when he died unmarried, Foster’s “Members of Parliament,” p. 159. Like his father and grandfather, Mr Grant was warmly attached to the Church of Scotland, and was elected a representative elder to the General Assembly in 1839. Unhappily, his promising career was cut short. He died aged 25, being found dead in his bed at Cullen House, having come up from London with his brother, Mr John Charles Grant, to attend his mother’s funeral. He was suffering from a slight indisposition at the time, and the immediate cause of his death was supposed to be an obstruction about the heart. Mother and son were buried at the new mausoleum at Duthil the same day. The [161] funeral was largely attended by a sorrowful and sympathetic crowd of mourners.

III. JOHN CHARLES, born 4th September 1815. He succeeded his father as seventh Earl of Seafield, “Chiefs,” I., p. 483; see infra.

IV. THE HON. JAMES OGILVIE GRANT afterwards succeeded his nephew as ninth Earl of Seafield Ibid.

V. THE HON. LEWIS ALEXANDER, Lieutenant Royal Horse Guards, born 18th September 1820, “Chiefs,” I p. 483, and ‘Burke’s Peerage,” article Seafield. He married on 15th August 1849, Georgina, fourth daughter of Robert George Maunsell of Limerick. She died 6th March 1885. He died 24th December 1902, leaving issue

1. FRANCIS CHARLES, born 17th May, died 4th June 1853.
2. ALEXANDER LEWIS HENRY, born 1st August 1854; married 30th October 1889, Hilda Annie, daughter of Sir Thomas Erskine Perry, formerly Chief Justice of Bombay. He died without issue, 3rd March 1904.
3. ROBERT GEORGE, born 10th October 1856; died in Ceylon, July 1888.
4. MARY LOUISA ELEANORA, born 13th July 1858; married 28th July 1885, Henry Maitland Sperling of Edgeworth Manor, Gloucestershire; now of Coombe Trenchard, Lew Don, North Devon.
5. MARIA JANE ANNE STUART, born 7th December 1861. [162]

VI. THE HON. GEORGE HENRY ESSEX, born 13th February 1825. "Chiefs,” I p. 483, and “Burke’s Peerage,” article Seafield. He married on 2nd October 1855, Eleanora, fourth daughter of the late Sir William Gordon Gordon Cumrning, Bart. He resided at Easter Elchies, Craigellachie, and was a Captain, 42nd Highlanders. He died 31st May 1873, survived by his wife, who died 5th April 1889. They left issue

1. HENRY OSWIN, late 2nd West India Regiment, born 2nd April 1859.
2. WILLIAM ROBERT, born 25th March 1863; assistant in department of Zoology, British Museum; married, 1st October 1890, Maud Louisa, eldest daughter of Admiral Mark Robert Pechell, and has issue
(i) CHARLES RANDOLPH MARK, born 15th March, 1905.
(ii) ELEANORA, born 22nd September 1892.
(iii) MARJORIE ELSPETH, born 25th June 1894.
(iv) ALISON JEAN, born 6th March 1896.
3. GEORGE RANDOLPH SEYMOUR, born 20th June 1866; married, 22nd Feb. 1909, Carmen, elder daughter of José T. Errazurez of Bryanston Square, London, W.
4. ALICE ELIZABETH, born December 1856; married, 6th July 1889, the Right Honourable Lord Walter Gordon Lennox, P.C., fourth son of the sixth Duke of [163] Richmond and Lennox and first Duke of Gordon, and has issue.
5. MURIEL FRANCES CHARLOTTE, born 21st May 1861; married, June 1892, Geoffrey St Quintin, son of Lieutenant-Colonel St Quintin, 17th Lancers, of Scampston Hall, Yorkshire, and has issue.

VII. THE HON. EDWARD ALEXANDER, born 17th June 1833, died 26th April 1844,"Chiefs" I p. 483.

VIII. LADY JANE, born at Cullen House 8th September 1813; married, 20th July 1843, Major-General Sir Edward Walter Forestier Walker K.C.B.. She died 16th September 1861. He died 27th July 1881, having married again. He had issue by his first wife four sons, of whom the eldest, General Sir Frederick William Edward Forestier Forestier-Walker G.C.M.G., K.C.B., born 17th April 1844, died at Tenby, Tuesday, 30th August 1910. He was Governor of Gibraltar, 1905-9; G.O. Commanding-in-Chief and High Commissioner, Mediterranean; Colonel of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He had a distinguished military career, was twice mentioned in despatches; was awarded the C.B. for his services in the South African War, 1877-9; was honourably mentioned and awarded the C.M.G., also medal and clasp, for his services with the Bechuanaland Expedition, 1884-5; was mentioned twice in despatches and awarded the G.C.M.G. also medal with two clasps for his services in the South African War, 1899-1902. He was a Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem, and a Knight [164] Grand Cross Spanish Military Order of Merit. He married, 15th February 1887, Mabel Louisa, daughter of Colonel A. E. Ross, late Northumberland Fusiliers and left issue.

[Facing page 164: Graphic: John Charles, Seventh Earl of Seafield, and his son, Ian Charles, Viscount of Reidhaven, afterwards eighth Earl of Seafield]

XX. 2. SIR JOHN CHARLES GRANT-OGILVIE, BARONET,

In 1841 he contested Banffshire unsuccessfully as a Conservative against Mr James Duff, afterwards Earl Fife. He was only defeated by 43 votes.

On 30th July 1853, he succeeded his father as seventh Earl of Seafield, and in the same year was elected one of the representative Peers of Scotland. He held that position till 14th August 1858, when he was created a Peer of the United Kingdom, under the title of BARON STRATHSPEY OF STRATHSPEY, an occasion celebrated with great rejoicings in the district, “Chiefs,” I., pp. xvii, xcii, 488.

He continued the work of his father in effecting extensive improvements on the estates, both in the [163] way of new houses, steadings, roads, the reclamation of waste land, and in enlarging the extensive plantations the late Earl had made, “Chiefs,” I, pp. 488, 489; see “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” p. 459, footnote. He took a leading part in the promotion of the Highland Railway, as he saw the great benefits that this railway would confer on his people.

[Graphic: the Miracle Stone of the Spey:]

ERECTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE LATE WILLIAM GRANT SLOCK FOR A MEMORIAL OF A SIGNAL
MANIFESTATION OF THE
DIVINE POWER IN DIVIDING
THIS WATER AND CAUSING
A PASSAGE WHEREBY THE
REMAINS OF A CERTAIN
WOMAN WERE CARRIED
OVER ON DRY GROUND

Erected near Boat of Garten, 9th March 1865. Broken and cast into the river 19th Feb. 1867.
From a drawing by the late Sir Arthur Mitchell, K.C.B., M.D., LL.D.

The “Agricultural Gazette” of March 5th 1877, states that in the Duthil district alone fourteen million fir trees had been planted since 1866, and that a self-sown crop was continually coming up. He was a very successful breeder of Highland cattle. He took a great interest in Highland games, and in [166] keeping up the pipes, the Highland dress and Highland industries, “Chiefs,” I, pp. 480, 490. He also took a great interest in, and rendered important services to, the cause of education. He was an office-bearer of the Church of Scotland, and was frequently a ruling elder at the General Assembly, Ibid, I pp. 490, 491. In 1879 Her Majesty, the late Queen Victoria, invested Lord Seafield with the Order of the Thistle, Ibid, I p. 491.

His residences were Cullen House ibid I, pp. 491-493 which he and his wife, Lady Seafield, greatly improved and restored, Castle Grant in Strathspey, and Balmacaan in Glen-Urquhart. He it was who first resolved to carry out the design of preserving an enduring record of his family and their muniments. This task he entrusted to the late Sir William Fraser K.C.B., LL.D., a work which was completed in the lifetime of his son and successor, the Eighth Earl. To this work, “The Chiefs of Grant,” 3 Volumes, published Edinburgh, 1883, the writer of this article has been greatly indebted (“Chiefs,” I, p. xvii).

[Graphic: signature of JOHN CHARLES, 7th EARL OF SEAFIELD]

Lord Seafield died after a short illness at Cullen House, on the evening of February 18th 1881. See “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” p. 508. The “good Earl” was greatly regretted, and nearly 10,000 people took part in the funeral obsequies on 25th and 26th February, on which latter date he was laid to rest at Duthil, with all the mournful ceremony befitting a great Highland Chief.

His Lordship married, on 12th August 1850, the Honourable Caroline Stuart, youngest daughter of [167] the eleventh Lord Blantyre "Chiefs,” I, p. 493.Their only child succeeded him as Earl of Seafield and Laird of Grant.

[Graphic: signature of HON. CAROLINE STUART, COUNTESS OP SEAFIELD]
[Graphic: facing page 167: photograph of Ian Charles, 8th Earl of Seafield]

XXI SIR IAN CHARLES GRANT-OGILVIE, BARONET,

The day on which he attained his majority was celebrated with great rejoicings throughout the length and breadth of the Grant and Seafield estates. The young Chief Viscount Reidhaven and Master of Grant, as he was then, received from the tenants of the Strathspey estates a presentation of his portrait, painted by the late Sir Francis Grant, President of the Royal Academy. The letter which offered the portrait for acceptance bore nearly one thousand signatures, the great proportion being of the name of Grant (“Chiefs,” I, p. 495, footnote). The presentation [168] was made by Field Marshal (then General) Sir Patrick Grant. The tenantry on the Cullen and Morayshire estates at the same time made a handsome presentation of silver plate. These presentations took place, and a banquet was given by Lord Seafield in a pavilion 120 feet in length by 60 feet in breadth, and in the evening huge bonfires illuminated the surrounding country. He succeeded his father on his death, the 18th February 1881. Before this event he had acted as Convener of the County of Inverness. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Banffshire and Inverness-shire. He was an active office-bearer of the Church of Scotland. He was devotedly attached to his clan and tenantry, and continued the policy of his predecessors on his estates “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” p. 459, footnote. He took an active interest in politics. He was a Conservative, but believed in gradual, progressive, and not too hasty reforms. His promising career, however, was all too soon cut short. He was suddenly seized with a fatal illness, which, on 31st March 1884, ended in his death. He was buried at Duthil, and his funeral was attended by a sorrowing throng of kinsmen, clansmen, tenants, and friends from far and near.

[Graphic: signature of IAN CHARLES, EIGHTH EARL, AS BARON OF STRATHSPEY.]

On his death, unmarried, the Barony of Strathspey became extinct. The Grant and Seafield [169] estates he bequeathed to his mother, Caroline, Countess of Seafield, the present proprietrix. See “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” p. 501.

He was succeeded in the title and headship of the clan by his uncle.

XX 3. SIR JAMES OGILV1E-GRANT, BARONET,

He succeeded his nephew as Earl of Seafield, 31st March 1884 "Burke’s Peerage,” article Seafield; “Urquhart and Glenmoriston,” p. 508; “Chiefs,” I, p. 502.

He was created a Peer of the United Kingdom, 17th June 1884, under the title previously borne by his brother and nephew, BARON STRATHSPEY OF STRATHSPEY “Lodge’s Peerage,” article Seafield.

His Lordship died 5th June 1888.

He married, first, 6th April 1841, Caroline Louisa, second daughter of Eyre Evans of Ash Hill Towers, County Limerick, a grand nephew of George, first Lord Carbery. She died on 6th February, 1850. By her he had issue,

I. FRANCIS WILLIAM, tenth Earl
II. MARY ANNE, born 7th, died 24th May 1842

He married, secondly, on 13th April 1853, Constance Helena, fourth daughter of Sir Robert Abercromby of Birkenbog, who died on 13th February 1872. [170] By her he had issue,

III. ROBERT ABERCROMBY, late Captain, Second Battalion Gordon Highlanders, born 4th September 1855; served in Afghan War, 1879-80, and Boer War, 1881.

The Earl married thirdly, on 15th December 1875, Georgiana Adelaide Forester, widow of William Stuart of Aldenham Abbey, Herts, and Tempford Hall, Bedfordshire and daughter of the late General F. N. Walker K.C.H. of Manor House, Bushey.

She died 7th September 1903.
He was succeeded by his elder son,

XXI SIR FRANCIS WILLIAM OGILVIE-GRANT, BARONET,

1. JAMES, eleventh and present Earl.

II. HON. TREVOR, born 2nd March 1879, married 19th December 1905, Alice Louisa, third daughter of the late T. M. Hardy Johnstone M.I.C.E., of Christchurch, New Zealand, and has issue, LENA BARBARA JOAN, born 2nd July 1907.

III. HON. JOHN CHARLES, born 1887, died 8th December, 1893. [171]

1V. LADY CAROLINE LOUISA, born 19th May, 1877.

V. LADY SYDNEY MONTAGU, born 23rd July 1882.

VI. LADY INA ELEANORA (twin with her sister), died 30th September, 1893.

VII. LADY NINA GERALDINE born 6th June 1884.

XXII SIR JAMES OGILVIE-GRANT, BARONET,

LADY NINA CAROLINE born 17th April 1906.

Creations: Viscount Seafield and Lord Ogilvie of Cullen, 24th June 1698; Earl of Seafield, Viscount Reidhaven, and Lord Ogilvie of Deskford and Cullen, 24th June 1701, all in the Peerage of Scotland; Baron Strathspey of Strathspey in the Counties of Inverness and Moray in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 17th June, 1884; Baronet of Nova Scotia, 30th August, 1625. [172]

Arms: (See ‘Chiefs,” I p. 498) Recorded in “Lyon Register”, Quarterly, quartered, first and fourth grand quarters, quarterly first and fourth argent, a lion passant guardant, gules, crowned with an imperial crown or; second and third argent, a cross engrailed sable, for Ogilvie; second and, third grand quarters gules, three antique crowns or; for Grant. The shield is encircled with an orange tawny ribbon, pendant therefrom the badge of a Baronet of Nova Scotia.

Crests: On the dexter side, upon a torse argent and gules, a lion rampant guardant of the second, holding in his paws a plummet or, and having above it an escrol “Tout Jour” for Ogilvie. On the sinister side, upon a torse gules and or, a burning hill proper, having on an escrol above it, "Craig-elachie” for Grant.

Supporters: On the dexter side a lion rampant guardant, or, armed gules, and on the sinister a savage or naked man, bearing upon his left shoulder a club, proper, and wreathed about the head and middle with laurel, vert.

Mottoes: Tout Jour, for Ogilvie.
Stand fast, Craig-Elachie, for Grant.

Badges: For Grant - Scotch Fir and Cranberry. For Ogilvie - The Evergreen Alkanet.

War Cry: Craig-Elachie - the rock of alarm.

Part VI