John Hamilton Gray | |
|---|---|
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| 4th Premier of Prince Edward Island | |
| In office March 2, 1863 – January 7, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Palmer |
| Succeeded by | James Colledge Pope |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 14, 1811 |
| Died | July 13, 1887 (aged 76) |
John Hamilton Gray (June 14, 1811 – August 13, 1887) was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1863 – 1865 and one of the Fathers of Confederation.
Gray began his political career in 1862 when he was elected to the provincial assembly as a reformer, despite his conservative roots.[citation needed] He became a leading member of the opposition, with a reputation even among his opponents as a great orator. He impressed the governor so much that he was invited to become a member of the Executive Council. However, his acceptance of the position drew criticism from his reform colleagues, and gained him a reputation for vacillation that followed him for the rest of his career. Gray became the Tory leader in the assembly, but when the Liberals won a majority in 1854, he was once again relegated to the opposition. Two years later, in 1856, the provincial governor dismissed the Liberal Executive Council and replaced them with a government led by Gray.