Background
Gray was born in Sydney to Alexander Gray, a licensed victualler, and his wife Margaret (née Hall).
Gray was born in Sydney to Alexander Gray, a licensed victualler, and his wife Margaret (née Hall).
He left school early but studied accountancy at night and in 1863 moved to Queensland where he found work with Clarke, Hodgson & Company, first as a clerk in Ipswich and then as a manager in Brisbane.
In 1887, Gray amalgamated his company with East. and North. Fitzgerald to form a public company, the Castlemaine Brewery and established its premises in Milton with Gray being managing director in 1924. Gray had many other business interests, he was director of National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited (Queensland), Queensland National Bank, Millaquin Sugar Company, Queensland Insurance Company Limited, and Queensland Trustees Limited.
Appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in August 1894, Gray held his seat till the Council was abolished in March 1922.
Except for a one-week break in 1899, he was the Minister without Office and Representative of Government in Legislative Council, from October 1898 till September 1903.
