William Gray was a Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 merchant

Merchant

A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...

 and politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

. Born into a lower class family in Lynn, Massachusetts

Lynn, Massachusetts

Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...

, he managed to build his own business and rise through the state's political ranks, becoming the richest man in New England

New England

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

, and in the eyes of many the richest man in all of America. Prior to the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

, William Gray had the largest private fleet in the United States with 60 square-rigged vessels.

Gray first served as a state senator

Massachusetts Senate

The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...

, before becoming lieutenant governor

Governor

A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...

 from 1810 to 1812. He married Elizabeth Chipman (May, 1756 - September 24, 1823) in 1782. Elizabeth was a pioneer in philanthropy

Philanthropy

Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

, volunteering a significant portion of her time to helping the poorest citizens of Boston.

He owned Gray's Wharf in Charlestown. In Boston "he lived on Summer Street

Summer Street (Boston)

Summer Street in Boston, Massachusetts extends from Downtown Crossing in the Financial District, over Fort Point Channel, and into South Boston...

, in the mansion previously occupied by Governor Sullivan."
Elizabeth and William's son, Francis Eally Gray

Frances Eally Gray

Francis Eally Gray was a politician from Massachusetts. The son of Elizabeth and William Gray, he graduated Harvard University and went on to be John Quincy Adams's private secretary, a member of the Massachusetts state legislature, and president of the Boston Athenæum...

, was also a politician.

Further reading

• Gray, Edward.: William Gray, of Salem, merchant: a biographical sketch (.1914)