General Sir William Kier Grant KCB GCH


William Kier was the son of Archibald Kier, born in 1772. He joined the 15th Light Dragoons as a cornet and was promoted to lieutenant in 1793. He saw service in Flanders at that time and fought at Villiers-en-Cauchies on 24 April 1794. The 1822 painting by Adam Buck shows him wearing one of the 9 gold medals that were struck and awarded to the officers of the 15th by Emperor Francis II. He also wears the insignia of the Military Order of Maria Theresa which granted him the status of Knight in England and Baron in Austria. The order is a small cross on a red a white ribbon next to his gold medal.

In 1795 he commanded a troop in the 6th Dragoon Guards in Germany and Ireland. Then in 1799 he served in the armies of Russia and Austria, fighting at Genoa in 1800, and Marengo. He spent time as ADC to the Prince of Wales and Lord Moira before going on active service in India, and became a colonel in 1810. In 1813 he was a major-general, commanding a small force of cavalry and grenadiers against Amir Khan in 1814. He had other successful operations against the Pindaris up until 1819.

One of his greatest military triumphs was against the pirates who had plagued the Persian Gulf for many years. He adopted the name Grant-Kier at that time, and was sent by the government of Bombay to suppress the Wahabi Arab tribe of Joasmi who monopolised the pirate activities in the area. Grant-Kier and his force captured the Arab stronghold of Rhas-ul-Khymah on 9 Dec 1819 and secured a treaty with the chiefs of the maritime Arab tribes in the Gulf. He was awarded the Persian decoration of the Lion and Sun, which hangs around his neck in the portrait. On his return home he assumed the name Kier Grant and was made KCB in 1822. He was lieutenant-general in 1825 and on 1 Feb 1833 he was appointed Colonel of the 8th Light Dragoons, then on 24 Aug1839 Colonel of the Scots Greys. He reached the rank of General on 23 Nov 1841. Sir William Kier Grant died at his home in Chapel Street, Belgravia on 7 May 1852, aged 80.


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by Stephen Luscombe