Throughout his life, George Grant (1918-1988) received a lot of of Canada’s uppermost honours. He was appointed in the direction of the Order of Canada, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society and received its distinguished Chaveau Award, and he was awarded seven honorary degrees by Canadian universities. There are couple of professors of philosophy, political science, or history who do not know his name. He is included in each critical reference book. His most important book, Lament for a Nation, has been named one of the hundred most Canadian books.
In spite of this fame in Canada, Grant is quite small identified outside his native nation. Why? The easy answer is: He did not significantly care about being famous and, although he achieved great achievement, his success came because he was a excellent philosopher, not because he well-liked success.
That was not because he didn’t know the nature of achievement. Both his grandfathers had been incredibly eminent Canadians. His paternal grandfather, G.M. Grant (1835-1902), was a Christian clergyman in the Scottish Presbyterian tradition. He rose to national prominence, although as an educator. Canadian knew him as Principal Grant, the head of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. When he turned its principal in 1877 it was a tiny, struggling, practically bankrupt college. At his death it was a energetic, financially sound, and academically respected institution. Grant was also a political figure of note. He could count on assured access to the prime minister of the day. His journalism was influential and he was 1 of the greatest public orators of his era.
Grant’s maternal grandfather, Sir George Parkin (1846-1922), was also an educator and a substantial political figure. Like Principal Grant, he was a superb platform orator and, in the 1880s and 1890s, he traveled widely throughout Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom arguing the case for maintaining close ties between the colonies. In 1896 he became head of the critical Canadian private boys school, Upper Canada College, where he implemented progressive educational reforms. He is most nicely-recognized for his activities in the period from 1902 to 1920. He was responsible for organizing, setting up and administering the Rhodes Scholarships, and it was for that achievement he was awarded his knighthood.
Grant’s most famous relative was his uncle, Vincent Massey (1887-1967). Massey married Parkin’s eldest daughter. He was Canada’s 1st Ambassador to the United States, and served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom for eleven years, including the important period of the Second World War. Even so, he is finest recognized as the initial native-born Canadian to serve as Governor-General (1952-59). Yet another uncle was a cabinet minister and a third a well-known inventor.
His family was not wealthy but he had a comfy and privileged upbringing. His father, William Grant (1872-1935) was also headmaster of Upper Canada College. The position brought with it a considerable salary, a home, servants, and totally free education for his son, who grew up with the children of a lot of of the country’s social and economic elite.