(25 March 1829-3 or 23 Jan. 1897), farmer, political figure. (Alexander J. Grant, A. J. Grant, Alex. Jim Roy) Born in GC, of U E Loyalist descent. Parents: James or John Grant and his wife Catherine Dingwall. A. J. Grant was a farmer, probably in the Williamstown area. In 1874 he appears to have been an independent candidate (presumably for GC), though defeated, for the House of Commons. (Cochrane) He was elected as an Independent Liberal (Sandfield Liberal) to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Jan. 1875, for Glengarry County, defeating Archibald McNab, who was also a Liberal but a straight Liberal. While MLA, Grant was one of the speakers at a meeting in Alexandria on 29 Aug. 1878, estimated to be attended by over 2000 people, at which prime minister Alexander Mackenzie and Ontario premier Oliver Mowat also spoke. (Gleaner, 5 Sept. 1878) In the next Ontario election, 1879, Grant did not run. He had gone to the Liberal convention attempting to get himself chosen as the Liberal candidate, but he lost to James Rayside, a straight Liberal. In the 1879 Ontario election, Rayside was defeated by Donald MacMaster, a Conservative. From this time Grant supported the Conservatives, resenting, it has been supposed (Harkness, 249), his rebuff at the hands of the Liberal party.

     Active for many years in municipal politics, Grant was reeve of Charlottenburgh Township, and in 1883 he was warden of SDG. In the militia, he was captain of No. 1 Company, Glengarry Battalion. Presbyterian. He is buried at St. Andrew’s cemetery, Williamstown. He was married to Margaret McLean (died 10 Aug. 1909, aged 81). They appear to have been the A.J. Grant and Margaret Grant of the A.J. and Margaret Grant Bursary at Queen’s University, but it has not been possible to determine the exact history of the bursary. This bursary is for Queen’s University students from the GC schools, and been a welcome reinforcement over several generations to the incomes of students. If he and his wife had children, there were none living at the time of his death. He was the brother of James J. Grant of Reno.

Cornwall Freeholder & Glengarry News both 29 Jan. 1897 * Harkness: index (portrait) * Roderick Lewis, 94 * Cochrane, IV, 174 (biog., portrait),* Fraser, Gravestones, I, 160-161 * Cornwall Reporter 31 Dec. 1881& Cornwall Freeholder 6 Jan. 1882: is defeated in Charlottenburgh Township election for reeve by Patrick Purcell and is abused by Cornwall Freeholder