Gray, Sir Alexander

(1882-1968)

   Born near Dundee, he was educated at Dundee High School, where his father was art teacher, and graduated from Edinburgh University in 1902, winning a gold medal for mathematics. He gained a second degree in economic science at Edinburgh and was awarded the Gladstone memorial prize. He was in the Civil Service from 1905 to 1921, then was appointed to the Jaffrey chair of political economy at Aberdeen University. He held honorary degrees from four universities. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1939 and knighted in 1947. He died in Edinburgh. His skill as a linguist was demonstrated in his book (from Dutch) The Scottish Staple at Veere (1909). His second major work was Development of Economic Doctrine (1931). Some of his poetry publications: Songs and Ballads 1920 (chiefly from Heinrich Heine [1797-1856]). Any Man's Life, 1924. Gossip, 1928. Arrows 1932 (German ballads). Sir Halewyn, 1949 (mainly from Dutch originals). Four and Forty, 1954 (Danish ballads into Scots). Some of his poems: "December Gloaming," "Epitaph on a Vagabond," "On a Cat Aging," "Scotland," "The Deil o' Bogie."

   Sources: A Book of Scottish Verse. Maurice Lindsay and R.L. Mackie, eds. St. Martin's Press, 1983. Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Colum154 bia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The Home Book of Modern Verse. Burton Egbert Stevenson, ed. Henry Holt, 1953. The National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk).