John Gray (1880-1942)
John Gray (1880-1942)
1946 Obituary [1]
JOHN GRAY spent almost the whole of his professional career in China, where his death occurred in hospital in Shanghai, in April 1942. He was born in 1880 and received his technical education at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen. After serving his apprenticeship with Messrs. A. Hall and Company, Ltd., shipbuilders, of Aberdeen, from 1895 to 1900, he was employed at sea for the next seven years as marine engineer and rose from second to chief engineer. During this period he obtained his Board of Trade First-Class Engineer's Certificate.
On the conclusion of a temporary engagement as foreman to Messrs. Hall and Company, he went to China and was employed in a similar capacity by the Shanghai Dock and Engineering Company. In 1917 he was appointed superintendent of the International Dry Dock and Marine Engineering Works, a concern which dealt with the bulk of repairs in Northern China. Three years later he went into business on his own account as a consulting engineer in Shanghai, his activities in this direction being of a varied nature.
Besides acting as marine superintendent for a number of shipowners, and representative for several British engineering companies, he had a wide connection as a cargo and marine surveyor. He was also a director of three local companies. Mr. Gray was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1923 and was transferred to Membership in 1930. He was also an Associate Member of the Institution of Naval Architects.