Frank Gray (politician)
Encyclopedia
Frank Gray was a British
politician. He served as a Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Oxford
from 1922 to 1924.
He was educated at Rugby School
and admitted as a solicitor in 1903; he retired from law in 1916, and entered the Army. He refused a commission, and served as a private soldier in The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) until the Armistice.
After the war, he worked as a farm labourer, lived with Warwickshire miners, and toured the workhouses of Oxfordshire as a tramp. He wrote the book "The Tramp: his Meaning and Being" (Dent, London, 1931.)
In the 1918 general election he contested Watford
, and he was elected as the MP for Oxford
in the 1922 general election
and was made a Liberal whip. He was accused of corrupt practices in the 1923 general election
. Following a petition, he was unseated in May 1924, but was acquitted of corrupt practices.
In 1926, he crossed Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea
in a car. He died while returning from South Africa to Southampton, having travelled there for his health.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician. He served as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
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 Oxford
Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. It comprised the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire, and elected two Members of Parliament from its creation in 1295 until 1881...
from 1922 to 1924.
He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and admitted as a solicitor in 1903; he retired from law in 1916, and entered the Army. He refused a commission, and served as a private soldier in The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) until the Armistice.
After the war, he worked as a farm labourer, lived with Warwickshire miners, and toured the workhouses of Oxfordshire as a tramp. He wrote the book "The Tramp: his Meaning and Being" (Dent, London, 1931.)
In the 1918 general election he contested Watford
Watford (UK Parliament constituency)
Watford 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...
, and he was elected as the MP for Oxford
Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. It comprised the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire, and elected two Members of Parliament from its creation in 1295 until 1881...
in the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
and was made a Liberal whip. He was accused of corrupt practices in the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. Following a petition, he was unseated in May 1924, but was acquitted of corrupt practices.
In 1926, he crossed Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
in a car. He died while returning from South Africa to Southampton, having travelled there for his health.