About John Gray
Lived 1828 – 1890 (aged 61–62). John Gray was a British and Chinese priest and prelate.
John Henry Gray (29 October 1823, in Carlisle – 17 March 1890, in St Leonards), a graduate from Christ's College, Cambridge, was the inaugural Archdeacon of Hong Kong, serving from 1868 until 1878. He was also a consular chaplain at Canton (also known as Guangzhou), 1867–78, and a commissary of the Diocese of Victoria, Hong Kong. He was Rector of Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, 1881–84.
He was best known for China: a History of the Laws, Manners and Customs of the People (2 volumes, Macmillan, 1878) and his various other books on Chinese society, norms and history, including Walks in The City of Canton, which meticulously depicted the life of Canton in the 1870s.
On 3 October 1876 in Hove, Sussex, he married Julia Cox (1838–1921) (who called him Henry), daughter of William Henry Cox, master printer, of London. They had two sons and two daughters (one of whom died in infancy). The surviving daughter married George Kruger Gray (1880–1943), notable heraldic artist. John Henry Gray died at St Leonards on Sea, Sussex.
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Important facts
People in John Gray's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Gray's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Gray?
Archdeacon of Hong Kong (1828-1890)
When was John Gray born?
John Gray was born in 1828 in Carlisle.
When did John Gray die?
John Gray died on 17 March 1890 in St Leonards.
What was John Gray's occupation?
John Gray was a priest and prelate.
What nationality was John Gray?
John Gray was British and Chinese.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Gray (archdeacon of Hong Kong)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Gray. https://biography.guide/john-gray-priest/
MLA: "John Gray." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-gray-priest/.
Chicago: "John Gray." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-gray-priest/.
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