Sir James Gray, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir James Gray, 2nd Baronet PC, KB
(c. 1708 – 14 February 1773) was a British diplomat
and antiquary.
He was the elder son of Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet
and his wife Hester Dodd. His younger brother was General
George Gray. He completed his education at Clare College, Cambridge
, being awarded M.A. in 1729. He then travelled on the continent.
Be began a diplomatic career in 1744 as secretary to Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness
, the Minister Resident at Venice and succeeded him as Resident there from 1746 to 1752. In October 1753, he was sent to Naples, where he remained until 1763, undertaking a mission to Rome
concerning The Young Pretender
in 1755. His final diplomatic position was as ambassador to Spain from 1766 to 1770, during which time he was there only about two years. On his return to England in 1769, he was sworn to the Privy Council. He was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath
in 1759.
He and his brother were founder members of the Society of Dilettanti of which George was secretary and treasurer. While in Naples
, he took a close interest in the archaeological discoveries at Portici
and Herculaneum
. He nominated suitable young grand tourists
for the Society of Dilettanti. He also offered advice on the king's new palace at Caserta
.
He died in 1773 leaving two illegitimate daughters. His baronetcy was inherited by his brother, who died the same year, upon which it became extinct.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(c. 1708 – 14 February 1773) was a British diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and antiquary.
He was the elder son of Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet
Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet
Sir James Gray, 1st Baronet, of Denne Hill, East Kent, , was an armiger, and a merchant-burgess of Edinburgh, who later managed the affairs in London of James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose....
and his wife Hester Dodd. His younger brother was General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
George Gray. He completed his education at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, being awarded M.A. in 1729. He then travelled on the continent.
Be began a diplomatic career in 1744 as secretary to Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness
Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness
Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness PC , known before 1721 as Lord Darcy and Conyers, was a British diplomat and politician. From 1744 to 1746 he was ambassador at Venice and from 1749 to 1751 he represented his country at The Hague...
, the Minister Resident at Venice and succeeded him as Resident there from 1746 to 1752. In October 1753, he was sent to Naples, where he remained until 1763, undertaking a mission to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
concerning The Young Pretender
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
in 1755. His final diplomatic position was as ambassador to Spain from 1766 to 1770, during which time he was there only about two years. On his return to England in 1769, he was sworn to the Privy Council. He was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1759.
He and his brother were founder members of the Society of Dilettanti of which George was secretary and treasurer. While in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, he took a close interest in the archaeological discoveries at Portici
Portici
Portici is a town and comune of the Province of Naples in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is the site of the Portici Royal Palace.-Geography:...
and Herculaneum
Herculaneum
Herculaneum was an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in AD 79, located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano, in the Italian region of Campania in the shadow of Mt...
. He nominated suitable young grand tourists
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
for the Society of Dilettanti. He also offered advice on the king's new palace at Caserta
Caserta
Caserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range...
.
He died in 1773 leaving two illegitimate daughters. His baronetcy was inherited by his brother, who died the same year, upon which it became extinct.