Tuhia he tomokanga mō tēnei wāhanga - I whānau mai a Grant ki Nairn i ngā whenua teitei o Scotland, i reira ko tōna pāpā te minita o te hahi, ā, i kuraina ia ki Nairn Academy, Aberdeen Grammar School me Marischal College, Aberdeen. I te tau 1846 ka uru atu ia ki te ope taua o Inia. I mahi ia i te Pakanga Sikh
(1848<unk>49), i mahi puta noa i te Indian Mutiny o 1857, ka whara i nga mahi mo te awhina o Lucknow.