James Gray (poet)
Encyclopedia
James Gray was a poet
and linguist.
Gray was originally master of the high school of Dumfries, and there became intimate with Robert Burns
. From 1801 till 1822 he was master in the high school of Edinburgh. In 1822 he became rector of the academy at Belfast
. He subsequently took holy orders in the English church, and in 1826 went out to India
as chaplain in the East India Company's
service at Bombay (East India Register, 1826, 2nd ed., p. 289). He was eventually stationed at Bhuj
in Kutch
, and was entrusted by the British government with the education of the young Rao of that province Deshalji II
, being, it is said, the first Christian
who was ever honoured with such an appointment in the east. Gray died at Bhuj on 25 March 1830 He married Mary Phillips of Longbridgemoor, Annandale, eldest sister of the wife of James Hogg
. His family mostly settled in India.
He published anonymously ‘Cona; or the Vale of Clwyd. And other poems,’ 12mo, London, 1814 (2nd ed., with author's name, 1816); and edited the ‘Poems’ of Robert Fergusson, with a life of the poet and remarks on his genius and writings, 12mo, Edinburgh, 1821. He left in manuscript a poem on ‘India.’ Another poem, entitled ‘A Sabbath among the Mountains,’ is attributed to him. His Cutchee
version of the gospel of St. Matthew was printed at Bombay in 1834. Hogg introduced Gray into the ‘Queen's Wake’ as the fifteenth bard
who sang the ballad
of ‘King Edward's Dream.’
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and linguist.
Gray was originally master of the high school of Dumfries, and there became intimate with Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
. From 1801 till 1822 he was master in the high school of Edinburgh. In 1822 he became rector of the academy at Belfast
Belfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
. He subsequently took holy orders in the English church, and in 1826 went out to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as chaplain in the East India Company's
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
service at Bombay (East India Register, 1826, 2nd ed., p. 289). He was eventually stationed at Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
in Kutch
Kutch District
Kutch district is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,652 km², it is the largest district of India....
, and was entrusted by the British government with the education of the young Rao of that province Deshalji II
Deshalji II
H.H. Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Deshalji II Sahib Bahadur was the Rao of Cutch, who ascended the throne of Princely State of Cutch upon deposition of his father Maharao Bharmulji II by British...
, being, it is said, the first Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
who was ever honoured with such an appointment in the east. Gray died at Bhuj on 25 March 1830 He married Mary Phillips of Longbridgemoor, Annandale, eldest sister of the wife of James Hogg
James Hogg
James Hogg was a Scottish poet and novelist who wrote in both Scots and English.-Early life:James Hogg was born in a small farm near Ettrick, Scotland in 1770 and was baptized there on 9 December, his actual date of birth having never been recorded...
. His family mostly settled in India.
He published anonymously ‘Cona; or the Vale of Clwyd. And other poems,’ 12mo, London, 1814 (2nd ed., with author's name, 1816); and edited the ‘Poems’ of Robert Fergusson, with a life of the poet and remarks on his genius and writings, 12mo, Edinburgh, 1821. He left in manuscript a poem on ‘India.’ Another poem, entitled ‘A Sabbath among the Mountains,’ is attributed to him. His Cutchee
Kutchi language
Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :...
version of the gospel of St. Matthew was printed at Bombay in 1834. Hogg introduced Gray into the ‘Queen's Wake’ as the fifteenth bard
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
who sang the ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
of ‘King Edward's Dream.’