Robert Isaac Dey Gray
Encyclopedia
Robert Isaac Dey Gray was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was probably born in New York
, but came to Canada
with his parents at the beginning of the American Revolution
. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1794. In 1795, he became Solicitor General for the province. He became a district court judge for the Home District in 1796.
He was elected to the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Stormont
and the 3rd
and 4th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Stormont
and Russell
.
He assumed the duties of the attorney general after the death of John White in 1800 until Thomas Scott arrived in 1801.
On October 7, 1804, he left York (Toronto
) aboard the HMS Speedy
to prosecute a murder case at the district town for the Newcastle District. The ship sunk off Presqu'ile Point in a storm on Lake Ontario
and all hands were lost.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was probably born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but came to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with his parents at the beginning of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1794. In 1795, he became Solicitor General for the province. He became a district court judge for the Home District in 1796.
He was elected to the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada
2nd Parliament of Upper Canada
The 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 1 June 1797. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in August 1796. The first session was held at Navy Hall in Newark. The Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe believed York was a superior location for the capital as it would less...
representing Stormont
Stormont County, Ontario
Stormont County area is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Stormont was created in 1792, however, it was settled seven years earlier in 1785. Veterans of Loyalist regiments were among the first settlers...
and the 3rd
3rd Parliament of Upper Canada
The 3rd Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 28 May 1801. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1800. All sessions were held at Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada in York, Upper Canada...
and 4th Parliament of Upper Canada
4th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 4th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 1 February 1805. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in May 1804. All sessions were held at Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada in York, Upper Canada...
representing Stormont
Stormont County, Ontario
Stormont County area is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Stormont was created in 1792, however, it was settled seven years earlier in 1785. Veterans of Loyalist regiments were among the first settlers...
and Russell
Russell County, Ontario
Russell County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.It was created in 1800 from a portion of Stormont County. It later merged with Prescott County to form Prescott and Russell United Counties....
.
He assumed the duties of the attorney general after the death of John White in 1800 until Thomas Scott arrived in 1801.
On October 7, 1804, he left York (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
) aboard the HMS Speedy
HMS Speedy (schooner)
The battle schooner or gunboat HMS Speedy sank in a blinding snowstorm in Lake Ontario south of Brighton, Ontario and west of Prince Edward County, on 8 October 1804, with the loss of all hands...
to prosecute a murder case at the district town for the Newcastle District. The ship sunk off Presqu'ile Point in a storm on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
and all hands were lost.