Grant was born in 1823 in the parish of Upper Banchory, Kincardineshire, and was educated at Aberdeen University.
Subsequently, he purchased a day school in Sheffield, which proved a failure, and in 1880 he had to retire from his charge penniless.
He published Metrical Tales at Sheffield in 1880, and Lays and Legends of the North at Edinburgh in 1884.
A Book of Ten Songs, with music, with a preface by Professor Blackie, appeared after his death.
His poems evince a sense of humour, and he had considerable narrative power in verse.