John Hamilton Gray (New Brunswick politician)

John Hamilton Gray
Premier of the Colony of New Brunswick
In office 1856–1857
Preceded by	Charles Fisher
Succeeded by	Charles Fisher
Member of theCanadian Parliament forCity and County of St. John
In office 1867–1872
Succeeded by	Isaac Burpee
Personal details
Born	1814 St. George's,Bermuda
Died	June 5, 1889 (aged 75) Victoria,British Columbia
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Elizabeth (Eliza) Ormond ​ ​ (m.1845)​

John Hamilton Gray,QC(1814 – June 5, 1889) was a politician in theProvince of New Brunswick,Canada, a jurist, and one of theFathers of Confederation.He should not be confused withJohn Hamilton Gray,aPrince Edward Islandpolitician (and also a Father of Confederation) in the same era.

Gray was born inSt. George's,Bermuda,British North America.His father, William, was naval commissary in Bermuda and later served as BritishconsulinNorfolk, Virginia.Gray's grandfather, Joseph Gray, was aUnited Empire LoyalistfromBostonwho settled inHalifax, Nova Scotiafollowing theAmerican Revolution.His cousin,Samuel Brownlow Gray(1823–1910), the grandfather of Captain Gerald Hamilton Gray (1883–1953) of theRoyal Garrison Artilleryand Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Wentworth Gray of thePrince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians),was appointed Attorney-General of Bermuda in 1861 and the Chief Justice of Bermuda in 1900.

John Hamilton Gray was educated atKing's CollegeinNova Scotiaafter which he became a lawyer inSaint John, New Brunswick.He also served as acaptainin the New Brunswick Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry becoming a major in the Queen's New Brunswick Ranger by 1850. In 1854 he becamelieutenant-colonelof the regiment.

Politically, Gray was ahigh ToryConservative but also a moderate reformer. He joined theNew Brunswick Colonial Associationafter it was founded in 1849. Gray moved a motion calling for a "federal union of theBritish North Americancolonies, preparatory to their immediate independence. "The motion was defeated but was an anticipation ofCanadian confederation.Gray was elected to theLegislative Assembly of New Brunswickas a supporter of the Colonial Association's platform of reforms in opposition to theCompactgovernment.Lieutenant GovernorEdmund Walker Headappointed Gray to theExecutive Councilcausing the reform opposition to collapse and ending Gray's career as aLiberal.He was created aQueen's CounselIn 1853.

Gray became leader of theConservativesin the Legislative Assembly and found himselfleader of the oppositionafter the 1854 elections, the first held underresponsible government,elected a Liberal (or Reform) administration ending "compact" government. In 1855, Lieutenant-GovernorJohn Manners-Suttondismissed the Reform government over its attempt to instituteprohibitionand asked Gray to form an administration.

AsPremier,Gray led the Conservatives to victory in theJune 1856 electionon an anti-prohibition platform and repealed the liquor law. However, with the central issue uniting his government now resolved he became unable to command amajorityin the legislature and resigned in May 1857.

Gray continued inoppositionas a Conservative MLA. He also led committees of inquiry into railway construction and investigated allegations of patronage and corruption but he concluded that the railway was "sound". After 1860, Gray drifted away from his fellow Conservatives and became supportive ofSamuel Leonard Tilley's Liberal government but was defeated in the 1861 election for his efforts.

Out of elected politics, Gray returned to his practice as a lawyer and was appointed to an inquiry board on the land question inPrince Edward Island.

Gray became an active supporter ofCanadian Confederationand joined Tilley's newLiberal-Conservative Partyreturning to the legislature in aby-electionin 1864. Gray served as a delegate to theCharlottetown Conferenceonly to return to New Brunswick to face growing hostility to the confederation project and lost his seat in the 1865 election that brought theAnti-Confederation Partyto power. Gray returned to the legislature in 1866 and served asSpeaker.When confederation became a reality, Gray won a seat in theHouse of Commons.

He did not run for re-election in 1872. He was appointed judge of theSupreme Court of British Columbiaand moved west reluctantly. He served on the 1885 Royal Commission on Chinese immigration.

John Hamilton Gray's headstone

On the court, Gray ruled in 1878 that the province'sChinese Tax Actwas unconstitutional as its purpose was to "drive the Chinese from the country, thus interfering at once with the authority reserved to the Dominion Parliament as to the regulation of the trade and commerce, the rights of aliens, and the treaties of the empire."

He was aFreemasonof Albion Lodge No. 500 in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Civil Service Lodge No. 148 in Ottawa.

John Hamilton Gray died in Victoria, British Columbia and is interred there in theRoss Bay Cemetery.He is the only father of confederation buried west of Ontario.

Electoral record

1867 Canadian federal election:City and County of St. John
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	John Hamilton Gray	acclaimed
Source: Canadian Elections Database

Recognition and legacy

• In 1968, aCNautomobile/passenger/railcar ferry entered service carrying the nameMV John Hamilton Gray,honouring both Fathers of Confederation.

External links

• "John Hamilton Gray".Dictionary of Canadian Biography(online ed.).University of Toronto Press.1979–2016.
• John Hamilton Gray – Parliament of Canada biography