1843 William Grant born in Glasgow to James Grant, a shoe manufacturer
1861? Moved to Yokohama, Japan
1866 September – Inaugurated into the Yokohama Freemasons Lodge – occupation given as a ships contractor
1866 September – writes to British Consulate in Japan seeking assistance in obtaining passports from Japanese government
1866 November – passports issued
1866 December – departs Yokohama with the Matsui Gensui troupe – contracted to him, for whom he arranged 14 passports.
1867 February – lands in Southampton. Troupe perform at St Martin’s Hall, London, then tour France, Germany, Italy, Belgium
1867 invests in brother’s shoe business in Glasgow
1868 September – Matsui Gensui tries to claim second year of pay from William Grant, in France. Grant flees in the middle of the night.
1870 William Grant retires from partnership in brother’s business
1870 William Grant becomes proprietor of The Great Dragon Troupe in Britain
1870 Grant spends money from selling partnership on building a vessel for giving entertainments on the Rhine.
1870 September – Mechanics Hall, Aberdeen
FIRST APPEARANCE IN THIS CITY MR WILLIAM GRANT, Proprietor and Interpreter, who has appeared before the Prince of Wales, the King of Denmark, Prince and Princess Christian, and other Royal Personages at Marlborough House, London, as well as before the Royal Family at Windsor, and who has been resident many years in Japan, will present his Famous Troupe, the GREAT DRAGON TROUPE of JAPANESE PERFORMERS, Thirteen in number, in National Costume.
The astounding performance of the above Troupe cannot be described—it must be seen to believed. The Press in all parts of the Country have pronounced it the MOST MARVELLOUS ENTERTAINMENT EVER WITNESSED. The Management call the attention of the Public to the fact that this not the Japanese Troupe that appeared in this town some time ago, and that they are not to be compared in the smallest decree. THE GREAT DRAGON TROUPE is the ONLY Company of Japanese who have had the honour of appearing before his Imperial Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, the King of Prussia, bis Imperial Highness the Czar of Russia, &c., &c.
Universal puzzle of the Press to describe the Performance of the Great Dragon Troupe of Japanese. THE PERFORMANCE WILL INCLUDE;— Wonderful Feats of Posturing; illustrations of Japanese Dexterity in Juggling ; Wonderful Performance the Boy Tommy, who balances on Eleven Tubs, supported the feet of Hansktchi ; Astounding Balancing on the top of a 30-feet Pole, perched on the shoulder of a Gedai; Terrific and Daring Performance on a Single Wire, by a Japanese Lady; the Celebrated Butterfly Trick; the Great LADDER BALANCING FEAT, never yet achieved by any other than the Japanese,&c.
An INSTRUMENTAL BAND will be in Attendance
1871 January – William Grant bankrupt
1871 March – appears before Greenock bankruptcy court
1872 January – tries to abscond by joining the ship Ocean Chief as a cook and steward, intending to sail on the voyage from Clyde to Yokohama, but was apprehended before the ship set sail and kept in Paisley jail.
Ninjin 