Charles Gray (MP)
Encyclopedia
Charles Gray FRS was a lawyer
, antiquary and Tory
Member of Parliament
for Colchester
.
Gray was baptised in 1696, the only son of George Gray, a glazier
and local landowner, and his wife Elizabeth. He was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School
from 1702, before possibly spending some time at Cambridge University and entering Gray's Inn
to become a lawyer in 1724. He was called to the bar
in 1729 and became a bencher
in 1737. Finally, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
in 1754. In 1726 he married Sarah Creffield, née
Webster, the well-off widow of Ralph Creffield
, and after her death in 1751, in 1755 Gray married Mary, the daughter of Randle Wilbraham, Member of Parliament for Chester.
Gray's political career was a long one; he served in five parliaments from 1742–1755 and 1761–1780, during the reigns of George II and George III
. By the end of his term, however, Gray was too ill to attend, being, in 1780, "too infirm and too ill to stand". "A classical scholar as well as a reformer, he was one of the original trustees of the British Museum
."
Locally, Gray is now most remembered for being gifted Colchester Castle
as part of his marriage settlement, and subsequently making a number of efforts to preserve it for future generations. Likewise, he also purchased a great part of the surrounding land, which was, a hundred and fifty years later, gifted to the town to become Castle Park. In the castle itself he constructed the Italianate
domed tower and the library, and founded in the latter, in 1750, the Castle Society Book Club: among the club's members was Philip Morant
. The library was to contain the books of Samuel Harsnett
, bequeathed to the town, and tended to and documented by Morant. He also roofed the castle in red tile, which survives. He was also responsible for management of a house, also part of his marriage settlement, which now forms Hollytrees museum
, named after holly trees that Gray planted during his ownership of the building. The bulk of his estate was left to his friend James Round
of Little Birch and his wife, Tamar, who was the daughter and heir of Gray's stepson, Peter Creffeild.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, antiquary and Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Colchester
Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
Colchester is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
.
Gray was baptised in 1696, the only son of George Gray, a glazier
Glazier
A Glazier is a construction professional who selects, cuts, installs, replaces, and removes residential, commercial, and artistic glass. Glaziers also install aluminum storefront frames and entrances, glass handrails and balustrades, shower enclosures, curtain wall framing and glass and mirror...
and local landowner, and his wife Elizabeth. He was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School is a grammar school in Colchester, Essex, founded in AD 1206 and granted two Royal Charters by Henry VIII and by Elizabeth I .-Admissions:...
from 1702, before possibly spending some time at Cambridge University and entering Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
to become a lawyer in 1724. He was called to the bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1729 and became a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
in 1737. Finally, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1754. In 1726 he married Sarah Creffield, née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Webster, the well-off widow of Ralph Creffield
Ralph Creffeild (born 1687)
Ralph Creffeild JP was a barrister and dignitary in Colchester, Essex, England, from a family of wealthy drapers and landowners....
, and after her death in 1751, in 1755 Gray married Mary, the daughter of Randle Wilbraham, Member of Parliament for Chester.
Gray's political career was a long one; he served in five parliaments from 1742–1755 and 1761–1780, during the reigns of George II and George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. By the end of his term, however, Gray was too ill to attend, being, in 1780, "too infirm and too ill to stand". "A classical scholar as well as a reformer, he was one of the original trustees of the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
."
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle in Colchester, Essex is an example of a largely complete Norman castle. It is a Grade I listed building.-Construction:At one and a half times the size of the Tower of London's White Tower, Colchester's keep is the largest ever built in Britain and the largest surviving example in...
as part of his marriage settlement, and subsequently making a number of efforts to preserve it for future generations. Likewise, he also purchased a great part of the surrounding land, which was, a hundred and fifty years later, gifted to the town to become Castle Park. In the castle itself he constructed the Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
domed tower and the library, and founded in the latter, in 1750, the Castle Society Book Club: among the club's members was Philip Morant
Philip Morant
Philip Morant was an English clergyman, author and historian.He was educated at Abingdon School and Pembroke College, Oxford, eventually taking his Masters Degree at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1729.Ordained in 1722, he began his association with the county of Essex with a curacy at Great...
. The library was to contain the books of Samuel Harsnett
Samuel Harsnett
Samuel Harsnett , born Samuel Halsnoth, was an English writer on religion and Archbishop of York from 1629.- Early life :...
, bequeathed to the town, and tended to and documented by Morant. He also roofed the castle in red tile, which survives. He was also responsible for management of a house, also part of his marriage settlement, which now forms Hollytrees museum
Hollytrees Museum
Hollytrees Museum is a free to visit, publicly owned museum in the centre of Colchester and close to Colchester Castle. It is situated in an eighteenth-century house , which was used as a private residence until 1929, when it became a museum....
, named after holly trees that Gray planted during his ownership of the building. The bulk of his estate was left to his friend James Round
James Round
James Round JP was an English first-class cricketer and Conservative politician.Round was born at Colchester, the son of Rev. James Thomas Round and his wife Louisa Barlow. His father was Rector of St. Runwald's and St. Nicholas, Colchester, and prebendary of Broomesbury. Round was educated at...
of Little Birch and his wife, Tamar, who was the daughter and heir of Gray's stepson, Peter Creffeild.