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Edmund Dwyer Gray (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Dwyer Gray was an Irish
newspaper proprietor, politician and MP
in the House of Commons
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
. He was also Lord Mayor and later High Sheriff of the City of Dublin and became a strong supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell
.
and his wife Anna Dwyer. After receiving his education, he joined his father in managing the Freeman's Journal
, the oldest nationalist
newspaper in Ireland. When his father died in 1875, Gray took over proprietorship of the Journal, and his family's other newspaper properties such as the Belfast Morning News and the Dublin Evening Telegraph.
In 1868, Gray saved five people from drowning in a wrecked schooner at Killiney Bay
, an action for which he received the Tayleur Fund Gold Medal for bravery from the Royal Humane Society
. By coincidence, the rescue was witnessed by his future wife, Caroline Agnes, who he would meet shortly afterwards. Agnes was the daughter of Caroline Chisholm
(an English humanitarian renowned for her work in female immigrant welfare in Australia
), and although Gray was descended from a Protestant
family, he converted to Catholicism
to marry her in 1869. The couple had one son, Edmund Dwyer-Gray
, who would take over from his father as proprietor of his newspapers and would go on to become Premier of Tasmania.
, and in 1880 served a term as Lord Mayor of Dublin
. Unusually for an Irish nationalist politician, Gray was very much focussed on urban rather than rural affairs, and like his father was heavily involved in public health and water provision for Dublin. He also promoted reform in the municipal health system.
Gray unsuccessfully ran for his father's seat of Kilkenny City
at Westminster
in the 1875 by-election
that followed Sir John Gray's death. He won a later by-election in 1877, becoming a Member of Parliament
representing Tipperary
for the Home Rule League
. At the 1880 general election
, he won the seat of Carlow County
. At the 1885 election
, as a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
, he won representation of both Carlow and the new constituency of Dublin St Stephen's Green
, and chose to represent the latter.
He was imprisoned for six weeks in 1882 for remarks made in the Freeman's Journal with regard to the composition of the jury in the case of a murder trial. (Gray was actually "High Sheriff of the City of Dublin" at the time of his imprisonment, and – because of the conflict of office – was taken into custody by the city coroner.) The defendant in the case in question was later hanged.
A heavy drinker and asthma
sufferer, Gray died aged 42 after a short illness on 27 March 1888, and was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
newspaper proprietor, politician and MP
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,...
in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. He was also Lord Mayor and later High Sheriff of the City of Dublin and became a strong supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
.
Early life and family
Gray was born on 29 December 1845 in Dublin, the second son of Sir John GrayJohn Gray (Irish politician)
Sir John Gray Knt MD JP, sometimes spelled John Grey was an Irish physician, surgeon, newspaper proprietor, journalist and politician...
and his wife Anna Dwyer. After receiving his education, he joined his father in managing the Freeman's Journal
Freeman's Journal
The Freeman's Journal was the oldest nationalist newspaper in Ireland. It was founded in 1763 by Charles Lucas and was identified with radical 18th century Protestant patriot politicians Henry Grattan and Henry Flood...
, the oldest nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
newspaper in Ireland. When his father died in 1875, Gray took over proprietorship of the Journal, and his family's other newspaper properties such as the Belfast Morning News and the Dublin Evening Telegraph.
In 1868, Gray saved five people from drowning in a wrecked schooner at Killiney Bay
Killiney
Killiney is a suburb of Dublin in south County Dublin, Ireland. It is within the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County. The area is by the coast, south of neighbouring Dalkey, and north to Shankill area in the most southern outskirt of Dublin....
, an action for which he received the Tayleur Fund Gold Medal for bravery from the Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
. By coincidence, the rescue was witnessed by his future wife, Caroline Agnes, who he would meet shortly afterwards. Agnes was the daughter of Caroline Chisholm
Caroline Chisholm
Caroline Chisholm was a progressive 19th-century English humanitarian known mostly for her involvement with female immigrant welfare in Australia. She is commemorated on 16 May in the Calendar of saints of the Church of England...
(an English humanitarian renowned for her work in female immigrant welfare in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
), and although Gray was descended from a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
family, he converted to Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to marry her in 1869. The couple had one son, Edmund Dwyer-Gray
Edmund Dwyer-Gray
Sir Edmund John Chisholm Dwyer-Gray was an Irish-Australian politician, who was the 29th Premier of Tasmania from 11 June to 18 December 1939.-Early life:...
, who would take over from his father as proprietor of his newspapers and would go on to become Premier of Tasmania.
Political career
From 1875 to 1883, Gray served as a member of the Dublin CorporationDublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
, and in 1880 served a term as Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
. Unusually for an Irish nationalist politician, Gray was very much focussed on urban rather than rural affairs, and like his father was heavily involved in public health and water provision for Dublin. He also promoted reform in the municipal health system.
Gray unsuccessfully ran for his father's seat of Kilkenny City
Kilkenny City (UK Parliament constituency)
Kilkenny City was an Irish Borough constituency in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, returning one Member of Parliament...
at Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
in the 1875 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
that followed Sir John Gray's death. He won a later by-election in 1877, becoming a 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,...
representing Tipperary
Tipperary (UK Parliament constituency)
Tipperary, also known as Tipperary County, was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.-Boundaries:...
for the Home Rule League
Home Rule League
The Home Rule League, sometimes called the Home Rule Party, was a political party which campaigned for home rule for the country of Ireland from 1873 to 1882, when it was replaced by the Irish Parliamentary Party.-Origins:...
. At the 1880 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, he won the seat of Carlow County
Carlow County (UK Parliament constituency)
Carlow County was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and one MP from 1885 to 1922....
. At the 1885 election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, as a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
, he won representation of both Carlow and the new constituency of Dublin St Stephen's Green
Dublin St Stephen's Green (UK Parliament constituency)
St Stephen's Green, a division of Dublin, was a UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland. It returned one Member of Parliament to the British House of Commons 1885–1922....
, and chose to represent the latter.
A heavy drinker and asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
sufferer, Gray died aged 42 after a short illness on 27 March 1888, and was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.