Ship's Captain. Born in Westing on the island of Unst in Shetland, Gray came from a sea-faring family and began on a career in commercial shipping at an early age. He joined the Eagle Line who were represented by Gibbs, Bright and Co. in Liverpool. In 1852, he became Second Officer on the SS Great Britain after the company acquired the Isambard Kingdom Brunel-designed ship. He was promoted to First Officer and then Captain in 1854. During most of this time the ship sailed to Melbourne in Australia, carrying emigrants many of whom were intent on making their fortunes in th Australian goldfields. He also captained the Great Britain while she was requisitioned to take troops to the Crimea (1855-56) and India to quell the Indian Mutiny of 1857. However the stresses of maintaining the reputation and speed of his ship on the run to Australia brought anxiety and illness. He disappeared from his cabin while at sea and is thought to have thrown himself overboard. The 2014 novel Revenge My Death gives an entirely fictional account of Gray's death.
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