[3] At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Grant enlisted as a private in the 20th Alabama Light Artillery regiment in the Confederate Army.

[1][2][6][5] He then attended Germany's Freiberg University of Mining, which was, at the time, one of the leading schools in the world for mineral engineering.

[3] Returning to the United States, he first settled briefly in the Colorado town of Central City.

[3][1] Grant was also involved in the construction of the 5 miles (8.0 km) long Yak Tunnel, which facilitated deep mining.

[5] Its 353 feet (108 m) tall smokestack, completed in 1892, stood for decades as one of the most recognizable landmarks in Denver's skyline until its 1950 demolition.

[5] At the time, Colorado was seen as a Republican Party stronghold due to the fact that most individuals that had moved there were northerners who had supported the Union Army's cause in the American Civil War.

[5] Grant benefited from a major divide that year in the state’s Republican Party, as well as his marriage into a prominent family and his ever-increasing notability as a successful smelting businessman.

[2][8] Many mines opened in the state's southwestern portion during his governorship, especially in the "Gunnison Country" area that was formerly a part of the Ute Indian reservation.

[2] Grant also succeeded in achieving his priority of extending the length of the legislative session of Colorado s state legislature.

[1][2][8] He also helped organize the creation of the Denver National Bank and served tenures as a member of the board of directors and as its vice-president.

[3][1] While his wife would entertain extensively at the residence, Grant himself receded from business and the social scene after his heart attack that year, instead spending much of the rest of his life concentrating on pleasurable outdoor activities such as the ranching on his ranch in Littleton, Colorado, as well as hunting and fishing.