Torben Grut was not known in Danish sporting circles and his IOC Membership, put forward by Pierre de Coubertin, was a complete surprise in Denmark, and de Coubertin received several letters of complaint, but never wavered in his support of Grut. He was made an IOC Member in December 1906 and served until July 1912. Grut was a career military man, serving as an aide-de-camp to King Christian IX (1924-26) and Chief of Staff of the Engineer Corps. He retired from the Army as a Major-General and died in the military hospital in København.
Denmark