Engraving of Sir James Grant of Grant, by John Kay

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Sir James was M.P. for Moray and later for Banff. He is shown in front of one of the regiments he raised and commanded, either the Grant or the Strathspey Fencibles, raised in 1793 and 1794 respectively. He lived between 1738 - 1811.

Fencible regiments were raised for the defence of the British Isles in the face of the threat of invasion by Napoleon: the word is short for 'defencible'. They were forerunners of the Territorial Army.

John Kay was born near Edinburgh in 1742. A keen artist from childhood, he was a barber until 1785 when he became a full-time engraver and painter of miniatures. His portraits of Edinburgh characters are vivid and unmistakable.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-100-222-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: The Thistle at War
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  Lib.1640.113
• Date: 1798
  
• Material: Paper
  Print / portrait
  
• Dimensions: 280 mm H
  
• What: Print / portrait
  
• Subject: Prints
  
• Who: John Kay (artist)
  Sir James Grant of Grant
  Strathspey Fencibles or Grant Fencibles
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh (depicted)
  
• Event:
• Description: Portrait of Sir James Grant of Grant, Bart., with a view of his regiment, the Strathspey or Grant Fencibles, by John Kay, Edinburgh, 1798. From Kay's Portraits. Volume I, Plate CXIII.
  
• References:
  • Kay, John A series of original portraits and caricature etchings with biographical sketches and anecdotes 2 volumes Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, 1837-38 
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