Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray

Sir Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray FRSE PSAS (1765-1842) was a Scottish peer, politician and soldier.

Life

Fowlis Castle

He was born in Edinburgh on 1 September 1765 the youngest of twelve children to John Gray, 11th Lord Gray and his wife Margaret Blair of Kinfauns (1720-1790).[1] The family had a house at Adams Square in Edinburgh[2] and a family seat in the north of Scotland at Fowlis Castle.

He served in the Breadalbane Fencibles, a local militia, gaining the rank of Major by 1793.

In 1807, following the death of his older brother, William John Gray, 13th Lord Gray he succeeded to the baronetcy. From 1807 to 1810 he served as Postmaster General to Scotland. In 1812 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Ninian Imrie, John Playfair and Sir John Leslie. He served as the Society's Vice President from 1815 to 1823. In 1816 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. From 1819 to 1823 he served as President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.[3]

He sat in the House of Lords 1812 to 1841.

He died on 20 August 1842 and is buried in the family vault at Fowlis.

Family

In 1794 he married Mary Ann Johnston, daughter of Lt Col James Johnston. They had three daughters and one son. The son, John Gray, 15th Lord Gray succeeded to the baronetcy.[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thepeerage.com/p2511.htm#i25102
  2. ↑ Edinburgh Post Office directory 1773-74
  3. ↑ BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF FORMER FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
  4. ↑ http://www.thepeerage.com/p2708.htm
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