[1][2] Born in Wakefield, Massachusetts, in 1902, Grattan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University (Worcester, MA) in 1923.

[3] While studying and presenting there he provoked the ire of the Ministry for Agriculture when he stated that Australian farmers were ill-prepared to weather sudden economic downturns.

In 1942, Grattan was forced to resign as economic analyst to the American Board of Economic Warfare when Representatives Martin Dies Jr. and Jerry Voorhis accused him of being both a Nazi and communist sympathizer; allegations that were withdrawn by Voorhis a short time later.

[1] In addition to his work as an analyst and historian, Grattan was also a freelance writer who published articles and critiques in such magazines as The American Mercury, Harper's and Scribner's.

He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Australian National University in 1977.