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Sir James Hope Grant was the most famous of all the officers serving in the 9th Lancers, and one of the most successful military leaders of the 19th century, gaining a reputation in India and China. He was highly praised by Lord Clyde (Sir Colin Campbell): ‘Hope has a clear head for business, and a sound judgement; and as to handling troops in the field, he is perfection, and has no master.’
James was born at Kilgraston, Perthshire, on 22 July 1808. He was the youngest out of seven children, 2 daughters and 5 sons. Their father was Francis Grant, mother Anne Oliphant. He was the only one in the family named Hope. The artist Sir Francis Grant was the 5th child. James was educated at the High School, Edinburgh and sent to Switzerland. He was 18 years old when he was commissioned as a cornet in the 9th Lancers on 29 Aug 1826, the regiment being stationed in Glasgow. While still in the junior rank of cornet he was appointed Adjutant in 1827, Purchasing his promotion to lieutenant the following year.
The 9th Lancers was a fashionable regiment, attracting rich officers who could afford 5,000 pounds for a promotion. James Hope Grant had purchased his promotion to captain on 29 May 1835 but was hard-pressed to afford further promotion, so considered selling out. But he was given the appointment of brigade-major by Major-General Lord Saltoun to join the forces of Sir Hugh Gough in the First China War. It was well known that James was an accomplished cello player, and Lord Saltoun, a keen musician and violinist, needed to make up a quartet.
The First China War saw Hope Grant at the storming of Chinkiang on 21 July 1842 and the signing of the treaty of Nanking on 27 August. He was rewarded by being appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He was elevated to the rank of major without purchase on 22 April 1842, a promotion that saved him the usual 5,000 pounds. He set off for India, arriving in March 1844. The CO, Lt-Colonel Alexander Campbell was given command of a brigade in the Gwalior campaign of 1843, also in the hierachy were Lt-Col John Scott as well as Major James Fullerton, all having had a command at Punniar, and all senior to Hope Grant. However, according to Henry Knollys’s biographies, Hope Grant assumed command of the 9th Lancers after arriving in India.
In the Sikh Wars of 1845-46 and 1848-49 Hope Grant fought at all the major battles. His journals mention how appalled he was at the amount of kit that officers took with them on campaign. On the day of the battle of Sobraon he put his career in jeopardy when he ordered the arrest of Lt-Colonel John Scott, CO at the time, for being drunk. He took command of the regiment in the battle. He was in command for the Second Sikh War, leading the 9th Lancers at Ramnagar, Chillianwala and Gujrat. For his services he was given the brevet of lieutenant-colonel, and on 29 April 1850 promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel, without purchase. He wrote in his journal, ‘Truly a great rise for me, as I know not how I could have purchased it. Thus I had got my majority and lieut-colonelcy without payment — more than any other officer in the Army can say’.
In 1847, Major Hope Grant had married Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Tayler and Elizabeth O’Donollan. In February 1851 he and Elizabeth sailed back to Britain, on sick leave. While there he had his full length portrait painted by his elder brother, Sir Francis Grant, in 1853. He returned to India in time to take part in the Indian Mutiny where he gained fame and widespread recognition. The officers were encouraged to arm themselves with lances as well as the men, and at the siege of Delhi earned themselves the nickname of ‘The Delhi Spearmen’. Grant himself, when a general officer, had his orderly, Corporal Cains of the 9th Lancers, carry a bamboo lance for him.
He marched with the regiment to Delhi, in a column commanded by Maj-Gen Sir Henry Barnard. There, because of the lack of artillerymen, the regiment worked in the batteries, becoming proficient gunners. In the second relief of Lucknow, he served under Sir Colin Campbell who held such a high opinion of Grant and elevated him to Brigadier-General. When the women and children were evacuated from Lucknow, Grant showed his consideration of others. The widow of Colonel William Case, wrote a memoir of the time, ‘Day by Day at Lucknow’ by Mrs Adelaide Case (1858)
‘I do not know what we should have done had it not been for the great kindness of General Grant, 9th Lancers, who himself brought us a bottle of beer, some tongue, and some excellent bread and butter; and not satisfied with that returned a second time bringing us some tea.’
Grant himself records the rather embarrassing occasion when he wandered about in the twilight looking for a lady, and carrying a large piece of high-flavoured, strong smelling, greasy looking cheese, wrapped up in a dirty old newspaper, which she had asked him to fetch for her.
As a reward for his services in the Mutiny, Grant was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), his investiture taking place in Allahabad, and promoted to Major-General. This was not as welcome as expected as it meant a considerable loss of money (at least 12,000 pounds), as he was then unable to sell his commission in the 9th Lancers.
He went to the Second China War as a lieutenant-general, sailing on 26 Feb 1860 and arriving at Hong Kong on 13 March. In China he was known as Jei-Ho (James Hope). He commanded troops at the taking of the Taku Forts and at Hsinho, Changchiawan and Palichiao. He is generally regarded as responsible for the burning of the Summer Palace. Of all the colonial wars of the 19th century, the Second China War was one of the most successful. According to Knollys, Grant’s biographer, ’The exploit was unaccompanied by reverse or blunder’ completed within three months. It is not clear whether Grant held an opinion on the morality of the war in which Britain fought for the right to trade in opium. However, he was rewarded with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), invested by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in June 1861. Napoleon III also nominated him a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.
In 1861, Sir James was appointed as Commander-in-Chief in Madras where he had to carry out the amalgamation of the Queen’s and East India Company’s troops. In 1865 he returned to Britain to take up the post of Quartermaster General (QMG) at Horse Guards. In November 1870 he moved to Aldershot as General Officer Commanding the troops. He reintroduced Autumn Manoeuvres, first instigated by the Prince Regent, in emulation of the Prussian system where troops were divided into two opposing forces to ‘fight’ against each other. This was controversial and Grant had to push it through against strong opposition.
He was promoted to General on 23 April 1872 and encouraged by his Aide-de-Camp, Henry Knollys, to publish his journals. He died at the age of 66, at 32 Grosvenor Gardens, Westminster, London on 7 March 1875 and was buried in Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh.
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