Harold Stannus Gray
Encyclopedia
Sir Harold William Stannus Gray, KBE
(16 August 1867 – 23 May 1951) was an Anglo
-Irish
landowner, horse breeder and politician. He served a brief period as a Member of Parliament during which he pressed for more help for agriculture.
for County Antrim
and he was born there at the family estate of Graymount. His father died in 1879 and Gray inherited the estate at that time, although he continued his education. In 1881 he entered Eton College
but left after only a year; he went up to Magdalene College
, Cambridge
in 1885. After obtaining his degree he returned to Graymount to run the estate. Gray married his cousin
, Rowena Stannus, the daughter of a County Antrim Justice of the peace
, in 1894.
in Cambridgeshire
which he bought in 1904, Gray became a very successful breeder of thoroughbred
racehorses, running some of them on the English and Irish turf. He also played a part in society, being High Sheriff
of County Antrim in 1895. During World War I
, Gray and his wife went to France to help in hospitals treating wounded allied troops, and Gray drove a motor ambulance for the French Red Cross
. He also became a Justice of the Peace for County Antrim himself.
constituency. At the time of the 1922 general election
, the MP was Edwin Montagu
, who had been Secretary of State for India
in the Coalition government. Montagu's policy was unpopular with Conservatives and he had been sacked from his ministerial office in March 1922 after publishing a telegram from the Indian government which was critical of government policy. Montagu stood for re-election as a Liberal without pledging himself to either David Lloyd George
or H. H. Asquith
. The Conservatives had been expecting to have to support Montagu as a Coalition candidate. At a late stage, the "die-hard" section within the Cambridgeshire Conservatives decided to stand a candidate against Montagu, who would have the backing of the party centrally and Gray was chosen as their candidate at the end of October 1922.
which provided that all imported material must be marked with its country of origin.
Gray's only son Terence became well known as the Taoist philosopher Wei Wu Wei
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(16 August 1867 – 23 May 1951) was an Anglo
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
landowner, horse breeder and politician. He served a brief period as a Member of Parliament during which he pressed for more help for agriculture.
Family and education
Gray's father, Major George Gray, was a Deputy LieutenantDeputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
and he was born there at the family estate of Graymount. His father died in 1879 and Gray inherited the estate at that time, although he continued his education. In 1881 he entered Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
but left after only a year; he went up to Magdalene College
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1885. After obtaining his degree he returned to Graymount to run the estate. Gray married his cousin
Cousin marriage
Cousin marriage is marriage between two cousins. In various jurisdictions and cultures, such marriages range from being considered ideal and actively encouraged, to being uncommon but still legal, to being seen as incest and legally prohibited....
, Rowena Stannus, the daughter of a County Antrim Justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, in 1894.
Horse breeding
Both at his estate in County Antrim and at an estate on the Gog-Magog HillsGog Magog Downs
The Gog Magog Downs are a range of low chalk hills, extending for several miles to the southeast of Cambridge in England. The highest points are marked on Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps as "Telegraph Clump"Telegraph Clump, at , Little Trees HillLittle Trees Hill, and Wandlebury Hill,Wandlebury...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
which he bought in 1904, Gray became a very successful breeder of thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses, running some of them on the English and Irish turf. He also played a part in society, being High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of County Antrim in 1895. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Gray and his wife went to France to help in hospitals treating wounded allied troops, and Gray drove a motor ambulance for the French Red Cross
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human...
. He also became a Justice of the Peace for County Antrim himself.
Election to Parliament
Gray's English land was in the CambridgeshireCambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Cambridgeshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Knights...
constituency. At the time of 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...
, the MP was Edwin Montagu
Edwin Samuel Montagu
Edwin Samuel Montagu PC was a British Liberal politician. He notably served as Secretary of State for India between 1917 and 1922.-Background and education:...
, who had been Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
in the Coalition government. Montagu's policy was unpopular with Conservatives and he had been sacked from his ministerial office in March 1922 after publishing a telegram from the Indian government which was critical of government policy. Montagu stood for re-election as a Liberal without pledging himself to either David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
or H. H. Asquith
H. H. Asquith
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...
. The Conservatives had been expecting to have to support Montagu as a Coalition candidate. At a late stage, the "die-hard" section within the Cambridgeshire Conservatives decided to stand a candidate against Montagu, who would have the backing of the party centrally and Gray was chosen as their candidate at the end of October 1922.
Agricultural issues
In his election address Gray concentrated on farming policy, complaining that the Coalition government had promised farmers support, but had withdrawn it. He supported marking all foreign imported eggs. He also favoured building a large number of homes for affordable rents. The campaign went poorly for the Liberals, who were reported by the last week of the campaign to be "despondent" about Montagu's chances. Gray won the election with a small majority over the Labour candidate, with Montagu in third place. As a Member of Parliament Gray concentrated on agricultural subjects, asking the Minister to introduce legislation to raise the wages of farm labourers. In line with his election pledge he supported the Merchandise Marks Bill introduced by E. G. PretymanErnest George Pretyman
Ernest George Pretyman PC, JP, DL , known as E. G. Pretyman, was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician.-Background and education:...
which provided that all imported material must be marked with its country of origin.
Later life
When a new election was called in November 1923, Gray was ill, and was forced to stand down from the candidature; he therefore left Parliament. He renewed his involvement in public life when he recovered, becoming a County Councillor in Cambridgeshire and serving as High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1939-40. He was awarded the honour of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire "for political and public service in Cambridgeshire" in the King's birthday honours list for 1938.Gray's only son Terence became well known as the Taoist philosopher Wei Wu Wei
Wei Wu Wei
Terence James Stannus Gray , better known by the pen name Wei Wu Wei, was a 20th century Taoist philosopher and writer.-Background:...
.