Hon. William Rufus Gray

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gray_(Massachusetts)

William Rufus Gray was a Massachusetts merchant and politician. Born on June 27, 1750 to Abraham and Lydia (Calley) Gray of Lynn, Massachusetts, he managed to build his own business and rise through the state's political ranks, becoming the richest man in New England.

When he was a ten years old, Gray’s father, a shoemaker, moved to Salem, where Gray was apprenticed to Samuel Gardner, Later he entered the counting house of Richard Derby and at the age of 28, started business for himself. In 1775, as a member of the Salem militia, he made a forced march with his company to Lexington, arriving too late for the battle. On June 6, 1776 he was commissioned second lieutenant of the First Essex Regiment, but there is no record that he had any further Revolutionary service.

His business ventures proved to be highly profitable and he was the owner of a number of privateers during the Revolution. He was one of the first New England merchants to enter into trade with Russia, India, and China. When he moved to Boston in 1809, he was the owner of 15 ships, 7 barks, 13 brigs, and one schooner, and his estate was estimated at $3 million. In 1792 the Essex Bank was organized by Salem merchants with William Gray as its first president. In 1803 Gray bought a wharf in Charlestown and sent his eldest son William Rufus to Boston as his agent. In 1807 Gray was chosen as a Federalist senator from Essex County and was reelected in the following year. In 1810 he ran for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket with Elbridge Gerry and was elected. He was reelected in 1811 but because of ill health declined a nomination 1812.

He married Elizabeth Chipman (1756-1823) of Marblehead in 1782. Elizabeth was a pioneer in philanthropy,volunteering a significant portion of her time to helping the poorest citizens of Boston. They had ten children, of whom six survived their parents.

In Boston he lived on Summer Street, in the mansion previously occupied by Governor Sullivan. He died on November 4, 1825 in Boston.