John Cox Bray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Hon. Sir
John Cox Bray
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Bray, c. 1880
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| 15th Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 24 June 1881 – 16 June 1884 |
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| Governor | Sir William Jervois Sir William Robinson |
| Preceded by | William Morgan |
| Succeeded by | John Colton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Cox Bray
31 May 1842 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 13 June 1894 (aged 52) At sea |
| Education | St Peter's College, Adelaide |
Sir John Cox Bray (born 31 May 1842 – died 13 June 1894) was a very important politician in South Australia. He made history as the first person born in South Australia to become the Premier of South Australia. He served as Premier from 1881 to 1884.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Cox Bray was born in East Adelaide, South Australia. His father, Tom Cox Bray, was a shoemaker from England. His mother was Sarah Bray. John was one of four sons.
He went to school at St. Peter's College in Adelaide. He also studied in England. Later, he studied law in South Australia. He became a lawyer in November 1870. John was very good at speaking and debating. These skills made him perfect for a life in politics.
Political Career and Achievements
John Cox Bray did not work as a lawyer for long. He was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly on 14 December 1871. This meant he became a Member of Parliament (M.P.) for the area of East Adelaide. He held this job until he left politics in 1892.
Bray held many important jobs in the government:
- He was the Minister of Justice and Minister of Education in 1875.
- He became the Attorney-General of South Australia from 1876 to 1877. In this role, he helped create the first law in Australia to allow "trades unions" to form. These unions helped workers.
- He was the Leader of the Opposition from 1877 to 1881. This meant he led the main political party that was not in power.
- From 1881 to 1884, he served as the Premier of South Australia. He was also the Chief Secretary and later the Treasurer of South Australia. At that time, he was the longest-serving Premier of the colony.
In 1883, Bray's government asked the British Government for full control of the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory was managed by South Australia since 1865. However, the British government said no. They thought the Northern Territory might need to become its own colony later.
Bray traveled to England and the United States in 1884 and 1885. When he returned, he continued to serve in government. He was the Chief Secretary of South Australia and Treasurer. He even acted as Premier when the Premier, John Downer, was away.
From 1888 to 1890, Bray was elected Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly. The Speaker is like the referee of the parliament. He made sure debates followed the rules.
Bray also attended important meetings about Australia's future. He went to the Sydney Intercolonial Conference in 1883. He was also one of South Australia's representatives at the first Federal Convention in Sydney in 1891. These meetings helped shape the future of Australia as a united country.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1892, Bray was appointed Agent General for South Australia in London. This meant he represented South Australia's interests in England. He had to leave this job early in 1894 due to poor health.
For his important work, Queen Victoria made him a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1890. This is a special honour.
Sir John Cox Bray sadly passed away at sea on 13 June 1894. He was on a ship traveling back to South Australia. He was the first person born in South Australia to hold the top jobs of Premier, Speaker, and Agent-General for the colony.
His wife, Alice Maude, Lady Bray, lived until 1935. They had three sons and one daughter.
Notable Descendants
Sir John Cox Bray's family continued to have important people.
- His youngest son, Harry Midwinter Bray, was a stockbroker. Harry's son was Dr. John Jefferson Bray. John Jefferson Bray became the Chief Justice of South Australia. He was also a poet and a Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.
- Bray's only daughter, Blanche Ada Bray, married Sir John Lavington Bonython. He was a Mayor of Adelaide. Their children included John Langdon Bonython and Elizabeth Hornabrook Bonython, also known as Lady Betty Wilson.
Many of Bray's descendants are still involved in Australian politics and the Australian legal system today.
Bray House in Adelaide
The historic building known as Bray House is in Adelaide city centre. It is located at the corner of Hutt and Wakefield Streets. Sir John Cox Bray bought this house in 1880. He added to the house, and it stayed in the Bray family for many years. The Adelaide City Council bought it in 1973.
Bray's Family Background
John Cox Bray's father, Tom Cox Bray, was a shoemaker. He and Sarah, John's mother, came to Australia in 1838. Tom Cox Bray had a shoe factory in Adelaide. He also invested in a copper mine and made a lot of money.
John Cox Bray's parents and older siblings later returned to England. His elder brother, Thomas William Bray, became a clergyman. Thomas's son, Sir Denys Bray, became a Foreign Secretary for the Government of India.
Many of T.C. Bray's descendants are notable. These include Sir John Henry Kerr, a colonial governor in India, David Russell, a classical guitarist, and Piers Sellers, an astronaut.
