About Me
Full Name
Sir John Cox Bray KCMG
Date of Birth
31 May 1842
Party
Pre-Party System
Position
Former Member
Electorate
East Adelaide
House
House of Assembly
Date Elected
14 December 1871
Prior Employment
Secretary, Daily Telegraph and Weekly Rail Newspaper Company Limited 1867
Lawyer
Adelaide Director, National Bank of Australasia 1887-92
Agent-General 1892-94
Lawyer
Adelaide Director, National Bank of Australasia 1887-92
Agent-General 1892-94
Public Activities
Sir John Bray was South Australia's first locally born Premier. Born in East Adelaide and educated at St Peter's College in Adelaide as well as in England, Bray became a solicitor before his election to the Lower House as a member for East Adelaide in 1871. He held this position for 21 years. He held office in the Blyth ministry as Minister for Justice and Minister for Education until the government resigned after a vote of no confidence was carried over Bray's acceptance of office after his original criticism of the government. He served as Attorney-General for the Colton government before becoming Premier in 1881 after neither Hawker or Colton were able to take the position.
Regarded for his popularity and disarming personality, Bray held office for nearly three years, the record for the Premiership at the time. Important legislation passed under Bray's leadership included the Married Women's Property Act 1883, which for the first time gave South Australian married women control over their own property and earnings after marriage. Early planning of the 1887 International Jubilee Exhibition in Adelaide also occurred under his leadership. His ministry ended in 1884 after Colton's vote of no confidence was passed, in part due to the government's administration of the Crown Lands Act (1888).
Bray was later Chief Secretary in the first Downer and second Playford Ministries, Speaker of the House of Assembly for two years (1888-90) and represented South Australia at the first Federal Convention in Sydney. He became Agent-General for South Australia in London at Playford's request, retired due to failing health and died on the voyage back to Adelaide. He was buried at sea in 1894.
Regarded for his popularity and disarming personality, Bray held office for nearly three years, the record for the Premiership at the time. Important legislation passed under Bray's leadership included the Married Women's Property Act 1883, which for the first time gave South Australian married women control over their own property and earnings after marriage. Early planning of the 1887 International Jubilee Exhibition in Adelaide also occurred under his leadership. His ministry ended in 1884 after Colton's vote of no confidence was passed, in part due to the government's administration of the Crown Lands Act (1888).
Bray was later Chief Secretary in the first Downer and second Playford Ministries, Speaker of the House of Assembly for two years (1888-90) and represented South Australia at the first Federal Convention in Sydney. He became Agent-General for South Australia in London at Playford's request, retired due to failing health and died on the voyage back to Adelaide. He was buried at sea in 1894.
Other Information
A portrait of Bray, by Andrew MacCormac, unveiled in 1891, hangs in Parliament House.
Deceased
12 June 1894
Electoral History
Date
District
House
Party
Reason (if retired)
14 Dec 1871 - 06 Jan 1892
East Adelaide
House of Assembly
Pre-Party System
Resigned
Offices Held
06 Jan 1892 - Current
Former Member
31 May 1888 - 05 Jun 1890
Speaker, House of Assembly
Ministerial Appointments
19 Aug 1890 - 06 Jan 1892
Chief Secretary
08 Jun 1886 - 11 Jun 1887
Treasurer
14 Oct 1885 - 08 Jun 1886
Chief Secretary
23 Apr 1884 - 16 Jun 1884
Treasurer
24 Jun 1881 - 23 Apr 1884
Chief Secretary
24 Jun 1881 - 16 Jun 1884
Premier
06 Jun 1876 - 26 Oct 1877
Attorney-General
15 Mar 1875 - 03 Jun 1875
Minister of Justice and Education
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