John Hamilton Gray (Prince Edward Island politician)

John Hamilton Gray (14 June 1811 – 13 August 1887) was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1863 – 1865 and one of the Fathers of Confederation. He should not be confused with John Hamilton Gray, a New Brunswick politician (and Father of Confederation) in the same era.

Gray began his political career in 1850, when he was elected to the provincial assembly as a reformer (despite his conservative roots). He became a leading member of the opposition, with a reputation even among his opponents as a great orator. He so impressed the governor that he was invited to become a member of the Executive Council. However, his acceptance of the position drew criticism from his reform colleagues, and gained him a reputation for vacillation that followed him for the rest of his career. Gray became the Tory leader in the assembly, but when the Liberals won a majority in 1854, he was once again relegated to the opposition. Two years later, in 1856, the provincial governor dismissed the Liberal Executive Council and replaced them with a government led by Gray.

He became famous in the British Army as well as in the political arena of his birthplace.

Gray was born in 1811, the son of Robert Gray, a United Empire Loyalist from Virginia. The elder Gray held a number of important administrative appointments in the early colonial government.

John Hamilton Gray was educated in Charlottetown. He chose a military career, trained in England and was commissioned into the 15th Foot in 1831. He transferred to the 13th Light Dragoons later the same year, the 15th Light Dragoons in 1839, the 1st Dragoon Guards in 1840, the 14th Light Dragoons in 1841, and the 7th Dragoon Guards in 1844. He served in India and South Africa and was decorated for his South African experience. In 1852 he retired with the rank of Colonel. He served with the East Kent Militia until 1856 when he returned to his birthplace.

It was not long before he was asked to participate in the political life of the colony. In 1858 he was elected to represent the district of 4th Queens in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island as a Conservative. He was re-elected in 1863.

Gray was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1863 to 1865 and during that time he attempted to alleviate the problems of the tenants by passing the fifteen year purchase act, but the final solution of this question had to await Confederation. Gray was chairman of the 1864 Quebec Conference which laid the groundwork for the British North America Act of 1867. He supported the entry of the Island into Confederation but when the Island rejected the scheme he left politics, turning the government over to James Colledge Pope.

He then returned to his first interest, the military. He was appointed adjutant-general of the PEI militia in 1867 with the rank of Colonel. He continued to be an administrator of military affairs until after the eventual Confederation of Prince Edward Island with Canada in 1873.

In 1889 John Hamilton Gray died at Inkerman House in Charlottetown. The name of the estate is in reference to the Battle of Inkerman where his father-in-law Sir John Pennyfeather, had lost honours to an older man. Inkerman Drive which once led to the house, is lined with trees planted by Gray and replacements of the same species, to represent the sides in the Battle. Linden on one side (Russian) and a mixture of white birch, beech, mountain ash and poplar on the other (French and English) [Lawson, Helen - Colonel John Hamilton Gray and Inkerman House] .

References

Lawson, Helen - Colonel John Hamilton Gray and Inkerman House, 1973

Honours

* Colonel Gray High School, a public secondary school in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island that opened in 1968 is named in his honour.

* In 1968, a CN automobile/passenger/railcar ferry entered service carrying the name "MV John Hamilton Gray", honouring both Fathers of Confederation.

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=5555 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]