John Hamilton Gray (Prince Edward Island politician)

Colonel John Hamilton Gray was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1863 to 1865 and one of the fathers of the Canadian Confederation. He became famous in the British Army as well as in the political arena of his birthplace. Gray was born in 1812, the son of Robert Gray, a United Empire Loyalist from Virginia. The elder Gray held a number of important administrative appointments in the early colonial government.

John Hamilton Gray was educated in Charlottetown. He chose a military career, trained in England and was commissioned as a cavalry officer in 1831 He served with the British Army for 21 years. He served in India and South Africa and was decorated for his South African experience. In 1852 he retired with the rank of Captain. He served with the British militia until 1856 when he returned to his birthplace.

It was not long before he was asked to participate in the political life of the colony. In 1858 he was elected to represent the district of 4th Queens in the Prince Edward Island House of Assembly as a Conservative. He was re-elected in 1863.

Gray was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1863 to 1865 and during that time he attempted to alleviate the problems of the tenants by passing the fifteen year purchase act, but the final solution of this question had to await Confederation. Gray was chairman of the 1864 Quebec Conference which laid the groundwork for the British North America Act of 1867. He supported the entry of the Island into Confederation but when the Island rejected the scheme he left politics, turning the government over to James Colledge Pope.

He then returned to his first interest, the military. He was appointed adjutant-general of the PEI militia in 1867 with the rank of Colonel. He continued to be an administrator of military affairs until after the eventual Confederation of Prince Edward Island with Canada in 1873.

In 1887 John Hamilton Gray died at Inkerman House in Charlottetown. The name of the estate is in reference to the battle of Inkerman where his father-in-law had won honours.

Preceded by: Edward Palmer 1859-1863

Premier of Prince Edward Island 1863-1865

Succeeded by: James Colledge Pope 1865-1867