Walter Colquhoun Grant (27 May 1822 – 27 August 1861) was a British Army officer and a pioneer settler in the former Oregon Country (shared / temporarily jointly occupied with the Americans of the United States) in western British North America on the continent of North America.
[1][2] Grant first joined the British Army sometime before 7 April 1843 when he was promoted, by purchase, to lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), having previously served in the regiment as a cornet.
Although some sources claim he left the army altogether,[1] the London Gazette shows that initially at least he merely transferred to the 47th Regiment of Foot.
At the outset there was little interest because of land cost (£1 per acre compared to free in the Oregon Territory) and because of the requirement that settlers bring other workers or families with them.
While in the colony he collected data about the flora, fauna, natives and trade the later published in Journal of the Royal Geographical Society and did a map of Vancouver Island drawn by John Arrowsmith.
[7]: 121 [10] On 1 August 1854 he was appointed Captain Commandant (though confusingly he was also granted local rank as major) of a detachment of the Mounted Staff Corps to serve with a part of the British Army that was being deployed to Turkey in advance of what would eventually become the Crimean War.