He was educated at King's College, Aberdeen, and afterwards at Leiden University where he was a favourite pupil of the learned civilian Johannes Voet.

[2] Grant was admitted an advocate on 29 January 1691, and, owing to the reputation which he had made by this treatise, quickly acquired a large practice.

[3]Grant was created a Baronet of Monymusk, Aberdeen in the baronetage of Nova Scotia with remainder to his heirs male by patent dated 7 December 1705.

Robert Wodrow records: His [literary] stile is dark and intricat, and so wer his pleadings at the barr, and his discourses on the bench.

One of his fellow-senators tells me he was a living library, and the most ready in citations; when the Lords wanted anything in the Civil or Canon law to be cast up, or Acts of Parliament, he never failed them, but turned to the place.

His eldest son, Archibald, succeeded to the baronetcy, and represented Aberdeenshire from 1722 to May 1732, when he was expelled the house for the share which he had taken in the management of the charitable corporation.