John Gray (Irish politician)

Sir John Gray Knt MD JP
Memorial statue on Dublin's O'Connell street
Born	(1815-07-13)13 July 1815 Claremorris, Mayo, Ireland
Died	9 April 1875(1875-04-09) (aged 59) Bath, Somerset, England
Resting place	Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin
Nationality	Irish
Other names	John Grey
Title	MP for Kilkenny City
Term	1865–1875
Political party	Liberal Party Home Rule League
Spouse(s)	Mary Anna Dwyer
Children	5

Sir John Gray Knt MD JP, sometimes spelled John Grey (13 July 1815 – 9 April 1875) was an Irish physician, surgeon, newspaper proprietor, journalist and politician. Gray was active both in municipal and national government for much of his life, and had nationalist ideals – which he expressed as owner of the Freeman's Journal, chairman of the Dublin Corporation Water Works Committee between 1863 and 1875, and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for Kilkenny city from 1865 until his death. He was a supporter of Daniel O'Connell, and later of Charles Stewart Parnell, and advocated a repeal of the Act of Union. Through his offices with Dublin Corporation, the Vartry Reservoir water supply works were completed, introducing a fresh water supply to Dublin city and suburbs. He died at Bath in England on 9 April 1875. Shortly after his death, his contributions to the provision of the water supply, and the beneficial impact this had to conditions of public health in Dublin, were recognised in a memorial statue on O'Connell Street.

John Gray was born in Claremorris, County Mayo; the third son of John and Elizabeth Gray of Mount Street. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and obtained the degree of M.D and Master in Surgery at Glasgow University in 1839. Shortly before his marriage in the same year, he settled in Dublin and took up a post at a hospital in North Cumberland Street. He was admitted as a licentiate of the College of Physicians in due course.