Hamish Gray, Baron Gray of Contin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Gray of Contin
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| Minister of State for Scotland | |
| In office 13 June 1983 – 11 September 1986 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Mansfield |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Glenarthur |
| Minister of State for Energy | |
| In office 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | Dickson Mabon |
| Succeeded by | Alick Buchanan-Smith |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 4 July 1983 – 14 March 2006 Life Peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Ross and Cromarty |
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| In office 18 June 1970 – 13 May 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Alasdair Mackenzie |
| Succeeded by | constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 June 1927 |
| Died | 14 March 2006 (aged 78) |
| Political party | Conservative |
James Hector Northey "Hamish" Gray, Baron Gray of Contin (born June 28, 1927 – died March 14, 2006) was a Scottish politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party and served in the British Parliament. He was also known as a life peer, which means he was given a special title for life and could sit in the House of Lords.
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Hamish Gray's Early Life
Hamish Gray was born in Inverness, a city in Scotland. He went to school at the Inverness Royal Academy. His father owned a business that fixed roofs in Inverness.
Military Service and Family
In 1945, Hamish Gray joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, a famous army regiment. He served in India during a very important time when India was becoming independent. In 1953, he married Judith Waite Brydon. They had two sons and one daughter together.
Starting a Political Career
Hamish Gray began his political journey in 1965. He was elected as an independent member of the Inverness Council. This was his first step into public service.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the 1970 United Kingdom general election, Hamish Gray was elected to the UK Parliament. He became a MP for the area called Ross and Cromarty. He represented the Conservative and Unionist Party.
Roles in Parliament
After becoming an MP, Hamish Gray took on more responsibilities.
- In 1971, he joined the Whips' Office. Whips help make sure that members of their party vote in a certain way.
- From 1975 to 1979, he was a spokesman for Energy. This meant he spoke for his party on energy-related issues.
Serving in Government
When the Conservative Party won the 1979 United Kingdom general election, Hamish Gray was given an important job.
Minister of State for Energy
From 1979 to 1983, he served as the Minister of State for Energy. In this role, he helped manage the country's energy policies.
Moving to the House of Lords
In the 1983 United Kingdom general election, Hamish Gray lost his seat in Parliament. However, he was soon given a new honor. He was made a life peer, which meant he became a member of the House of Lords. He took the title Baron Gray of Contin.
Minister of State for Scotland
From 1983 to 1986, Lord Gray of Contin served as the Minister of State for Scotland. In this role, he helped manage government affairs related to Scotland.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time as a minister, Hamish Gray continued to serve his community in Inverness.
- He became a Deputy lieutenant in 1989.
- He was the Vice Lord Lieutenant from 1994.
- He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness from 1996 to 2002. This is a representative of the King or Queen in a county.
Hamish Gray passed away on March 14, 2006, at the age of 78. He died in a hospice in Inverness after a long illness.
