Bryce Gray (November 27, 1827 – June 29, 1897) was a Scottish-American merchant and banker who served as the president of the
Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York
The Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York is the oldest charitable institution in the state of New York and is focused on helping Scots in the New York community.
History
The organization was founded in 1756 by Scottish founders in N ...
.
Early life
Gray was born in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
on November 27, 1827. He was a son of Robert Gray and Margaret Cherry Gray.
Career
In 1843, at the age of fourteen, he left Scotland to begin working for his cousins' (William and James Murdoch) firm, Murdoch Brothers in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348 ...
, the largest dry goods merchants in the area. Around 1850, he came to New York City to become cashier, or head bookkeeper, of White & Thurger. After Thurger died, the firm was reorganized under the name James F. White & Co. on Pine Street. White retired in 1855 to move to Dundee and Gray became the senior member of the firm until his death in 1897. He also served as a director of the Commonwealth Insurance Company of New York, president of the Aztec Land and Cattle Company, and a director of the Atlantic and Pacific and
St. Louis–San Francisco Railway
The St. Louis–San Francisco Railway , commonly known as the "Frisco", was a railroad that operated in the Midwest and South Central United States from 1876 to April 17, 1980. At the end of 1970, it operated of road on of track, not includin ...
s.
Gordon was a member of the
New York City Chamber of Commerce
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New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
the
Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York
The Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York is the oldest charitable institution in the state of New York and is focused on helping Scots in the New York community.
History
The organization was founded in 1756 by Scottish founders in N ...
where he served as president from 1887 to 1889.
Personal life
On May 31, 1860, he married Andrewetta Josephine Mount (1838–1919), daughter of Jane C. K. B. (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth ...
Perry) Mount and Andrew Mount of Wilmerding & Mount. Together, they were the parents of three children:
* Bryce Gray Jr. (1861–1900), who married Ada Gwynne, daughter of Nicholas Gwynne.
* George Mount Gray (1863–1929), who was also a member of James F. White & Co.
* Josephine Gray (1868–1928), who married Charles Henry Jewett (1869–1934).
At one time, he owned a large tract of land in the
Highlands
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Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to:
Places Albania
* Dukagjin Highlands
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* Armenian Highlands
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* So ...
and the draw bridge across the
Shrewsbury River
The Shrewsbury River is a short stream and navigable estuary. The stream is approximately 8 mi (13 km) long and is located in Central New Jersey.
It extends east-northeast from its head of navigation at Oceanport to its confluence with ...
before it came into possession of the county.
Gray died on June 29, 1897, at his home, 554
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue is a major and prominent thoroughfare in the borough of Manhattan in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 populatio ...
in New York City. He was buried at All Saints Memorial Church Cemetery in
Navesink, New Jersey
Navesink (, ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located on the northernmost stretch of the Jersey Shore in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.