James Grainger

???? - 24th Dec 1766


Biography

The physician and poet, reported to have bought enslaved people on St Kitts.

Born at Duns, Berwickshire, between 1721 and 1724, son of John Grainger of Houghton Hall, Cumberland, and his second wife. Sent to school at Berwick. Studied medicine at Edinburgh University. Became a surgeon in the army in the mid- to late-1740s. Returned to Edinburgh University and graduated MD in 1753, thereafter settling in London where he practised as a physician and socialised in literary circles, making his living primarily from his writings.

Left England for the West Indies in 1759, travelling with his former pupil John Bourryau (q.v.), who apparently offered him an annuity of £200 per annum for the trip. Married Miss Burt, daughter of William Burt (presumably William Pym Burt, father of William Mathew Burt (q.v.)), shortly after arriving in St Kitts. Worked as a physician in St Kitts and managed the estates of Daniel Mathew (q.v.), his wife's uncle. "Unable to afford to become a planter himself, he indulged in his favourite study of botany, and his scanty savings were invested in the purchase of slaves."

Returned to England in 1763 where he read his most famous work, The Sugar Cane, to Samuel Johnson and James Boswell in Sir Joshua Reynold's drawing room. The poem was published in 1764, just after his return to St Kitts. Published An Essay on the more common West-India diseases; and the remedies which that country itself produces:to which are added, some hints on the management etc. of Negroes later that year.

Grainger died in St Kitts in 1766.


Sources

Gordon Goodwin, revised by Caroline Overy, 'James Granger, physician and poet', ODNB online edition (2007); John Nichols, Illustrations of the literary history of the eighteenth century, consisting of authentic memoirs and original letters of eminent persons, vol. VII (1848), pp. 225-233.

We are grateful to Mathew Lowe and Matthew Lee for their assistance with compiling this entry.


Further Information

Absentee?
Transatlantic
Spouse
[forename unknown] Burt
Children
Louise Agnes, Eleanor
University
University of Edinburgh
Occupation
Physician and poet

Legacies Summary

Historical (2)

BooksAuthor?
An Essay on the more common West-India diseases; and the remedies which that country itself produces:to which are added, some hints on the management etc. of... 1764 
BooksAuthor?
The Sugar-cane: a poem. In four books with... 1764 

Relationships (2)

Other relatives
Notes →
Grainger's wife was Mathew's...
Annuitant → Grantor