Henry Gray was an American lawyer and politician. He served in the state legislatures of Mississippi and then Louisiana.
Background
Henry Gray was born on January 19, 1816, in Laurens District, South Carolina, United States. His ancestors, who emigrated from Prussia in the early settlement of the American colonies, many of them distinguished themselves in the service of their adopted country. His father, Henry Gray, was prominent in politics in South Carolina and served for many years in the Legislature. His mother was Elvira Flannagin Gray.
Education
Henry Gray graduated from South Carolina College (present-day University of South Carolina) in 1834 and was admitted to the bar in 1838.
Henry Gray immediately entered upon the study of the law and was admitted to the bar in 1838. In 1839 he was elected district attorney and served until 1845 when he declined renomination. In 1846 Henry Gray was elected to the legislature and served for one session and resigned. In 1850 he was a candidate for Congress on the Whig ticket and was defeated by a small majority. In 1851 he moved to Louisiana and settled in Bienville Parish, where he continued the practice of his profession and engaged largely in agriculture. In the campaign of 1856 (having left the Whig ranks) he was an elector on the Democratic ticket. In this memorable campaign, he and Judah P. Benjamin canvassed the State together and were strong political friends. Henry Gray was elected to the Legislature in 1860. The same year he was a candidate of the United States Senate against Mr. Benjamin and was defeated by one vote.
When the war came on Henry Gray enlisted in the Confederate service as a private in a Mississippi regiment. His ability was well known to President Davis, with whom he was on the most intimate terms. He was sent by President Davis from Virginia, where his regiment was then in service to Louisiana, to organize a regiment. Accordingly, he organized the Twenty-eighth Louisiana Infantry, of which he was elected Colonel. The conspicuous part that this regiment played, and the distinguished services rendered in the Toche country, and in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, are familiar in the military annals of the times. At the battle of Mansfield, one of the greatest achievements of the late war, Gen. Mouton was mortally wounded, and Gen. Gray was promoted to brigadier-general and placed in command of his brigade. He commanded the troops in the Red River District and then in Arkansas when Henry Gray was elected to the Confederate Congress. This closed his military career. He proceeded immediately to Richmond and represented the North Louisiana District Confederate Congress in the last days of the Confederacy. After the war was ended by the Confederate surrender Gen. Gray returned to his home, only to find his hard-earned competency swept away. He was elected to the State Senate soon after and took an active and conspicuous part. As an orator he had but few equals. About this time he lost his wife, which appears to have chilled his political aspirations. He resigned his seat in the Senate and retired from politics, since which time he has persistently declined to become a candidate for any office. Though Henry Gray engaged energetically in agricultural pursuits, he, like many of his compatriots in the Confederacy, was never able to rebuild his shattered fortunes.
Achievements
Politics
Gray became a Democrat and was elected to the Louisiana legislature in 1860.
Connections
In 1841 Henry Gray married Eleanora Ann Howard. They had three daughters: Martha Potts Gray, Nora F. Gray Gibbs, Elvie Gray Stothart.