Sir John Cox Bray (31 May 1842 – 13 June 1894) was a prominent
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
n politician and the first native-born
Premier of South Australia
The premier of South Australia is the head of government in the state of South Australia, Australia. The Government of South Australia follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of South Australia acting as the legislature. The premier i ...
(1881–1884).
Early life and education
John Cox Bray was born in East
Adelaide
Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
, a son of
Tom Cox Bray (1815–1881), shoemaker from
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...
,
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
, and Sarah Bray, née Pink, (1813–1877), from the same county. John was the second of their four sons (with two daughters), all born in Adelaide.
Educated at
St. Peter's College and in England, Bray read law in South Australia, being articled to W. T. Foster, and was called to the South Australian Bar in November 1870.
He joined the able lawyer J. B. Sheridan in partnership as Bray and Sheridan, but his mercurial temperament made him ill-suited to the practice of law; however, he had the wit and debating skills for a life of politics.
Political career
In Adelaide, Bray practised law only briefly, as a
solicitor
A solicitor is a lawyer who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and enabled to p ...
, before being elected to the
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly (also known as the lower house) is one of two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia, the other being the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.
Overview
The House of Assem ...
as M.P. for
East Adelaide on 14 December 1871, a constituency he held until his retirement from politics on 6 January 1892.
Bray served as Minister of Justice and Minister of Education in the 3rd
Blyth ministry (15 March 1875 – 3 June 1875). He also served as
Attorney-General of South Australia
The attorney-general of South Australia is the Cabinet minister in the Government of South Australia who is responsible for that state's system of law and justice. The attorney-general must be a qualified legal practitioner, although this wa ...
(June 1876 – 26 October 1877) in the
Colton ministry, when he was responsible for introducing an "Act to Provide for the formation and registration of trades unions", the first such legislation in Australia. He served as
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...
to the
Morgan ministry (October 1877 – 24 June 1881), and Premier and Chief Secretary of the Province of South Australia (24 June 1881 – 23 April 1884), and Premier and
Treasurer of South Australia (23 April 1884 – 16 June 1884). At the time, he was the longest-serving premier of the colony.
The Bray Government in 1883 petitioned the British Government for absolute control of the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
, put in 1865 under the administration of South Australia, but on the grounds that at some future time it might be necessary to erect a separate colony in the north their request was refused.
Bray visited England and the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
from 1884 to 1885, returning to serve as
Chief Secretary of South Australia
The Chief Secretary of South Australia (since 1856) or Colonial Secretary of South Australia (1836–1856) was a key role in the governance of the Colony of South Australia (1836–1900) and State of South Australia (from 1901) until it was abolish ...
(14 October 1885 – June 1887), and Treasurer (8 June 1886 – 7 June 1887) in the 1st
Downer ministry. He was acting Premier during Downer's absence in England until June 1887. Due to his popularity, Bray was elected
Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly (served 31 May 1888 – June 1890), after which he refused renomination to that office. He was Chief Secretary in the 2nd Playford ministry (19 August 1890 – 6 January 1892), when he left politics, sparking the
East Adelaide by-election, which saw the first Labor MP elected in South Australian history.
Bray attended the
Sydney Intercolonial Conference in 1883, and was one of seven South Australian representatives at the
first Federal Convention at Sydney in 1891.
Later life and legacy
Bray was appointed
Agent General for South Australia in London (served 29 February 1892 – April 1894), resigning early because of ill health. He was created a Knight Commander of the
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III ...
(KCMG) by
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
in the New Year's Honours List for 1890.
On 13 June 1894, he died at sea between
Aden
Aden () is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, on the north coast of the Gulf of Aden, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km (110 mi) east of ...
and
Colombo
Colombo, ( ; , ; , ), is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is the ...
aboard the
''Oceana'' en route from London to
Adelaide
Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
following his term as
South Australia's Agent-General to the United Kingdom.
His obituary appeared in
The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
(London) of 19 June 1894.
Bray was the first native-born South Australian to serve as premier, speaker, and agent-general for the colony.
His wife, Alice Maude née Hornabrook, Lady Bray, (1850 – 13 July 1935), whom he married in 1870, survived him. They had three sons and one daughter.
Descendants
*The youngest son, Harry Midwinter Bray (1879–1965), an Adelaide stockbroker, was the father of the Honourable Dr
John Jefferson Bray (1912–1995), poet, lawyer, academic, and judge, who served as
Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many Sa ...
.
*In 1904 Bray's only daughter, Blanche Ada Bray (1881–1908), married, as his first wife, Sir
John Lavington Bonython
Sir John Lavington Bonython (10 September 1875 – 6 November 1960) was a prominent public figure in Adelaide, known for his work in journalism, business and politics. In association with his father, he became involved in the management of n ...
(1875–1960), sometime Mayor and later
Lord Mayor of Adelaide, member of the well-known family of newspaper proprietors, philanthropists, and art connoisseurs. They had three children; she died in childbirth aged 26:
John Langdon Bonython
Sir John Langdon Bonython (; Charles Earle Funk, ''What's the Name, Please?'' (Funk & Wagnalls, 1936). 15 October 184822 October 1939) was an Australian editor, newspaper proprietor, philanthropist, journalist and politician who served ...
AO (1905–1992); Elizabeth Hornabrook Bonython (1907–2008), later Lady Wilson, though better known by the incorrect but popular style
Lady Betty Wilson CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
, who lived to age 101; and Ada Bray Heath (1908–1965).
Bray's descendants continue to include people prominent in
Australian politics and the
Australian judiciary.
Family home in Adelaide
The historic building known as
Bray House is situated on the south-eastern corner of
Hutt and
Wakefield Streets in Adelaide city centre. Built and then extended in the early to mid-19th century, the home was bought by Bray in 1880. The Hutt Street frontage was built for him, and the house remained in the Bray family until it was bought by the
Adelaide City Council in 1973.
Birth family
Background
Tom's father, William Bray, rather than being a captain in the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
as is traditionally claimed, in fact, worked as a
cordwainer
A cordwainer () is a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather. The cordwainer's trade can be contrasted with the cobbler's trade, according to a tradition in Britain that restricted cobblers to repairing shoes. This usage distinction is ...
and
cabinet maker
A cabinet is a case or cupboard with shelves or drawers for storing or displaying items. Some cabinets are stand alone while others are built in to a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood (solid ...
prior to his early death in 1816, aged about 26 years. Tom and Sarah were married at St Mary's parish church,
Portsea, Hampshire, on 22 July 1838, just prior to their embarkation for Australia in the ''Prince George'', arriving in the colony in December 1838. Sarah's father, William Pink (died 1853), also settled in Adelaide, and was employed as a labourer in the Survey of South Australia. Tom Cox Bray had a boot and shoe factory at 79
Hindley Street, Adelaide
Hindley Street is located in the north-west quarter of the Adelaide city centre, centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street, Adelaide, King William Street and West Terrace, Adelaide, West Terrace. Th ...
from 1840 to 1856, when he and his family returned to England. He had the good fortune to be one of the "Snobs" (i.e. tradesmen) who risked their savings on shares in the
South Australian Mining Association
South Australian Mining Association was a no-liability company which established several mines in South Australia, notably the "Grey Wheal", or north mine at Burra, which made a fortune for its promoters, the "Snobs", while the adjacent southern c ...
copper mine at Burra, and made handsome profits.
The Bray family appears to have moved to the Portsmouth area from the
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...
, in contradiction to the very garbled accounts of their origins to be found in ''
Burke's Colonial Gentry'' (1891–1895), volume 2, under "Bray of Adelaide", and in the American Supplement (1939) to ''
Burke's Landed Gentry
''Burke's Landed Gentry'' (originally titled ''Burke's Commoners'') is a reference work listing families in Great Britain and Ireland who have owned rural estates of some size. The work has been in existence from the first half of the 19th cen ...
'' (1937 edition), and ''
Burke's American Families with British Ancestry'', and found under "Bray" (covering the career and descent of Professor
William Crowell Bray (1879–1946), head of the Chemistry department at the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...
, who belonged to the Canadian branch of the Bray family which had been established in
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada () was a Province, part of The Canadas, British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Queb ...
in 1839 by
William Bray, J.P., R.N. (1814–1882), a
gunnery officer
The gunnery officer of a warship was the officer responsible for operation and maintenance of the ship's guns and for safe storage of the ship's ammunition inventory.
Background
The gunnery officer was usually the line officer next in rank to the ...
in the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
, and the elder brother of T.C. Bray).
Return to England
John Cox Bray's parents, elder brother and sisters returned to England at some point during his early career, due to an improvement in their circumstances said to be the result of Tom Cox Bray's having inherited shipping interests from his paternal grandfather, possibly George Bray (elsewhere called Charles Bray), who had disapproved of his son's marriage to Ann Cox (1789–1840), later Winship, daughter of a farmer from Southsea, Hampshire.
Once in England, the family lived in comfort first at
Blackheath in
Kent
Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...
, and later at
Harrogate
Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and civil parish in the North Yorkshire District, district and North Yorkshire, county of North Yorkshire, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist de ...
, the
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...
spa town
A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits.
Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath, Somerset, Ba ...
in which Mrs Bray died. The elder son,
Thomas William Bray (1840–1887), was sent to
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the Unive ...
, and later became an
Anglican
Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
clergyman. He was father of
Sir Denys Bray (1875–1951),
K.C.S.I.,
K.C.I.E.,
C.B.E.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
, sometime
Foreign Secretary to the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
, and Indian delegate to the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...
during the
British colonial period.
T.C. Bray lived the rest of his life as a gentleman, moving to
Kilmacolm,
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire () (; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Renfrewshire is located in the west central Lowlands. It borders East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire, and lies on the southern ba ...
in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
, where he had descendants in the mid-1980s. He died in Scotland and his will was proved in Scotland and South Australia. Descendants include Sir
John Henry Kerr, colonial governor in India,
David Russell, classical guitarist, and
Piers Sellers
Piers John Sellers (11 April 1955 – 23 December 2016) was a British-American meteorologist, NASA astronaut and Director of the Earth Science Division at NASA/GSFC. He was a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions.
Sellers attended Cranbroo ...
, astronaut.
References
*
*
*Richard Herbert Bray Carruthers-Żurowski, ''The Bray Family of England, Canada, and Australia'' (1986), deposited in the libraries of the
Hampshire Family History Society and the
South Australian Society for Genealogy and Heraldry.
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bray, John Cox
1842 births
1894 deaths
Colony of South Australia people
Australian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Australian justices of the peace
John Cox
Premiers of South Australia
Attorneys-general of South Australia
Politicians from Adelaide
People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
Speakers of the South Australian House of Assembly
Leaders of the opposition in South Australia
Treasurers of South Australia
19th-century Australian politicians
Australian people of English descent