He was born in Hobart to Sarah Louisa Elizabeth Gray (née Gadd) and John Gray and was raised in Fern Tree, attending Neika State School.
He was an Alderman and Deputy Lord Mayor at Hobart City Council from 1949 to 1958.
In 1946 he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as an independent member for Franklin.
He was defeated in 1950, but in 1951 was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council as the member for Newdegate.
[1] He was married to Alma Bertha Sproule and had five children; Jack, Bruce, Valma, Donald and Douglas.