David Gray (colonial administrator)
David Gray | |
|---|---|
Gray in 1953 | |
| Acting Resident Councillor of the Settlement of Penang | |
| In office 1954–1955 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Porter Bingham |
| Succeeded by | Robert Porter Bingham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 April 1906 |
| Died | 1 November 1976 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | British |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Merton College, Oxford, London School of Economics |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator |
David Gray (2 April 1906 – 1 November 1976) was a British colonial administrator. He served as acting Chief Secretary of the Federation of Malaya from 1953 to 1954 and acting Resident Councillor of Penang from 1954 to 1955.
Early life and education
Gray was born on 2 April 1906, the eldest son of W.S.Gray of Carlisle, Cumbria. He was educated at Carlisle Grammar School; Merton College, Oxford and the London School of Economics.[1]
Career
Gray joined the Malayan Civil Service as a cadet in 1930 and served in various posts. In 1934, he was attached to the Chinese Secretariat in Singapore and in 1936 was acting Protector of Chinese in Negeri Sembilan where he organised relief work for unemployed Chinese.[2][3] After he was interned by the Japanese military in Singapore from 1942 to 1945, he returned to the service after the War and in 1947 was attached to the Department of Labour of the Federation of Malaya as deputy commissioner. Between 1951 and 1953, he was Secretary for Chinese Affairs of the Federation of Malaya.[4] He also served as a member of the Federal Legislative Council.[5] From 1954 to 1955, he was Resident Councillor of Penang and served as the first chairman of the newly created council assembly of the settlement.[6][7] In 1953, and from 1955 to 1956, he was called on to act as Chief Secretary of the Federation of Malaya, and in 1956 as Officer Administering the government of the Federation of Malaya.[1][8][9]
After retiring from the service in 1956, Gray returned to England and was Secretary-General of the Engineering Industries Association.[10] He then spent ten years as the Secretary of the Industrial Society (now The Work Foundation), a post he held until 1968 when his services were recognised with the award the OBE.[1]
Personal life and death
Gray married Betty Humphrey in 1938 and they had a son.[1][11]
Gray died on 1 November 1976, aged 70.[1]
Honours
Gray was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1968 Birthday Honours.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e A. & C. Black (Publishers) Ltd. (1981). Who was who, 1971-1980 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. London : A. & C. Black. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-7136-2176-1.
- ^ "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 10 September 1936. p. 3.
- ^ "Mr. D. Gray leaving". The Straits Times. 28 August 1938. p. 26.
- ^ "David Gray due on Saturday". Singapore Standard. 27 February 1953. p. 5.
- ^ "No mass retrenchments-yet 'Can't upset morale', Council told". The Straits Budget. 3 December 1953. p. 12.
- ^ "Penang to get a new 'boss'". The Straits Budget. 11 November 1954. p. 9.
- ^ "Fanfare opening for new Penang council". The Straits Times. 10 March 1955. p. 7.
- ^ "Gray bids farewell to capital". The Straits Times. 17 February 1956. p. 4.
- ^ "The No. 1 job and then Mr. Gray says goodbye". The Straits Times. 4 January 1956. p. 4.
- ^ "New posts for MacGillivray and Gray". The Straits Times. 3 June 1958. p. 2.
- ^ "Mr. David Gray Married In Sussex". The Straits Budget. 10 November 1938. p. 13.
- ^ "No. 44600". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1968. p. 6309.