DEATH OF SIR JOHN GRAY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 111, 12 June 1875, Page 14

DEATH OF SIR JOHN GRAY.

Dttblin, April 9 1875. — Sir John Gray, member of Parliament for Kilkenny, and proprietor of the ' freeman's Journal,' of Dublin, died yesterday. Sketch of his Lite. Sir John Gray, Knight, and member of Parliament, wa* an eminent journalist, a leading politician, and a very successful British legislator. He vas the 6on of the late Mr. John Gray, of Claremorris, in the county Mayo, Ireland, by his wife Elizabeth, the only child of Mr. George Melnon. He was born in the year 1815, and was educated in Trinity College, Dublin. He studied medicine as a profession, and •was in due season admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. He entered the field of politics early in life, attaching himself to the party of O'Connell, and has since continued to tank as an advanced reformer. He was elected an Alderman of the city of Dublin, and ■was subsequently chosen Lord Mayor of the Irish metropolis for the years 1868-69, but he declined to serve. He became part proprietor of the ' Dublin freeman's Journal,' and was afterwards owner of the paper, a very valuable property. He was untiring as industrious and had much to do with the undertaking of Vartry Water Works, by the completion of which Dublin obtained a supply of water. The Earl of Carlisle, as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, conferred the honour of Knighthood on Dr. Gray in the year 1863, in recognition of his •ervicet as chairman of the Water Works Commission. The late Lord Palmerston entertained a very high opinion of Dr. Gray as a reformer, a patriot and gentleman, and was accustomed to ask his extra parliamentary opinion on. many subjects connected with the ■welfare of Ireland. Dr. Gray moved resolutions in the House of Commons for the disestablishment of the Irish Church. He also introduced, with Mr. Cogan and Sir Colman O'Loghlen, the Official Oaths and the Transubstantiation Declaration Abolition bills. He advocated the ballot and tenant right. Sir John Gray leaves four icrai and tiro daughters.