He began to build his own vessels essentially selling them to himself at a considerable profit. He built a commercial empire by also selling or renting ships to merchants and this was initially solidified during the American Revolution during which he was given military command of most of the Great Lakes.
However, in the course of the revolution Grant lost much of his income with the loss of 12,000 acres (49 kmē) of land he owned in New York and the end of his participation in private shipping.
In August 1805, Grant became administrator of Upper Canada on the death of Lieutenant-GovernorPeter Hunter and continued Hunter's policies until a new lieutenant governor, Francis Gore, arrived from Britain in August 1806.
AlexanderGrant (c1812) and Susan Sumner of Buncombe and Cherokee Co, NC and Gilmer Co, GA and Polk Co, TN martygrant.com
AlexanderGrant was born ca 1810/11 (per 1850 census), presumably in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Alexander (or someone his age group) seemed to be at home with his parents for the 1820 census, but not with them in 1830, nor listed as head of household himself that year.
AlexanderGrant (1734–1813) was a British army officer, businessman and politician in Upper Canada.
Grant became a naval superintendent in 1763 with his headquarters on Navy Island in the Niagara River before moving to Detroit.
Grant recovered, however, and rose to a position of prominence in civil society being appointed a justice of the peace in 1786 and to a succession of governmental and poltiical positions in both Upper Canada and Lower Canada.