Article

Sir James Alexander Grant

Published Online December 13, 2007

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Sir James Alexander Grant, physician, politician (b at Inverness, Scot 11 Aug 1831; d at Ottawa 5 Feb 1920). A graduate of Queen's and McGill, he practised medicine for all of his professional life in Ottawa. He was personal physician to the first 8 governors general (1867-1905).

Grant, Sir James Alexander

Sir James Alexander Grant, physician, politician (b at Inverness, Scot 11 Aug 1831; d at Ottawa 5 Feb 1920). A graduate of Queen's and McGill, he practised medicine for all of his professional life in Ottawa. He was personal physician to the first 8 governors general (1867-1905). Successful care of Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, earned him a KCMG in 1887 and Queen Victoria's motherly thanks. His professional eminence led to election as president of the CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSN and the Royal Soc of Canada. Grant sat in Parliament for Russell County 1867-73 and Ottawa 1893-96 and gained distinction by introducing the original CANADIAN PACIFIC RY Bill in 1872, using an appropriate medical metaphor, when he said Canada would become one great country by "placing an iron splint on these provinces to strengthen the union and develop trade."