Despite her Wikipedia page stating (in 2022) that she was born in 1831, she was actually born on 16 March 1830 in Edinburgh, Scotland, a daughter of John Grant (1798-1873) and Lucy Grant née Bruce (1806-1881). She was baptised on 1 April 1830 in Dunbarney, Perth, Scotland.
In the 1841 census she was shown as living in North Street, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, with her parents and nine siblings: Francis Augustus Grant (b.1829), Charles Thomas Constantine Grant (1831-1891), Arthur Grant (b.1832), Anne Grant (1834-1858), Matilda Catharine Grant (1835-1842), Lucy Grant (1836-1875), Eliza Louisa Grant (b.1839), John Ludovick Grant (b.1839) and Robert Henry Grant (1840-1878), together with a governess and six female servants. Her father was described of being of independent means.
She is shown in the 1851 census as living at Kilgraston House, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, Scotland, with her parents, three siblings: Alan Rudolph Grant (1843-1929), Alaric Frederick Grant (1844-1918) and Charlotte Augusta Grant (1849-1921), together with a butler, a footman, a housekeeper, a nurse, a cook, a lady's maid, a housemaid, a kitchen-maid, a dairy maid, a laundry maid and a nursery maid.
She was described as a sculptor in the 1881 census living in Ebenezer House, Park Village West, Regent's Park, London, with her widowed mother, her brother Alan Rudolph Grant, together with a cook/housekeeper, two lady's maids, a table maid, a housemaid, a kitchen-maid, a coachman with his wife and two daughters.
The 1891 census shows her as a sculptor living at 29 Tite Street, Chelsea, together with a cook, a lady's maid and a parlour maid. However, when the 1901 census was completed she gave no occupation but was still residing at 29 Tite Street, Chelsea, together with a cook, a maid and a house parlour maid.
Her works include: statues and plaques for the shrine-like reredos in St Mary‘s Cathedral, Edinburgh and a crucifixion scene behind the alter of St Mary's Eversholt Street, originally carved for St Mary the Virgin in Charing Cross Road which was demolished in 1934. A more comprehensive list of her works is given on the Mapping of Sculpture website.
Probate records confirm that she had lived at 21 Royal Avenue, Chelsea, and that she died, aged 77 years, on 20 February 1908. When probate was granted on 22 April 1908 to her sister, Charlotte Augusta Grant, her effects totalled £968-12s-7d. Her death was registered in the 1st quarter of 1908 in the Chelsea registration district.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
