... at 50 times the speed of the ss Great Britain
A PORTRAIT of John Gray – the man who captained the ss Great Britain for almost 20 years – is travelling halfway around the world from Australia to Bristol.
The distance, which took Captain Gray 60 days in the mid to late 1800s, is now less than 30 hours by plane.
The ss Great Britain Trust has acquired the oil painting with the help of long-term supporter John Baker and the Museums Libraries and Archives Victoria & Albert Purchase Grant Fund (the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund).
It will take pride of place in the Baker Gallery, named in memory of Mr Baker’s wife Barbara, on the first floor of the Dockyard Museum, next to the ss Great Britain.
Captain Gray, a Shetlander, was well known in Victorian society, being in charge, between 1854 and 1872, of the most famous ship afloat. Travelling on board the steam ship Great Britain meant a voyage in relative comfort and at twice the speed of a vessel solely reliant on wind and sails.
By travelling with Captain Gray, Victorians of all classes could be assured they were likely to arrive in Melbourne alive. Many other British vessels were shipwrecked, often within view of the Australian shoreline, or gripped by disease.
Eminent passengers of the ss Great Britain included author Anthony Trollope, who wrote ‘Lady Anna’ on board ship, and the first ‘All-England’ cricket team to tour Australia. Almost 15,000 people emigrated to Australia under Captain Gray’s command. Some 2% of today’s population, are descendents of the ss Great Britain’s passengers, and owe their thanks to the Scotsman.
The third of the ship’s five Captains, he served the longest.
As well as commanding the respect of crew and passengers, he was charismatic and well-liked. The Trust has many records from diaries, and the captain’s own log, which stand testament to his skills and shed light on his engaging personality. [Please see passenger diary extracts and references to Captain John Gray below]
Captain Gray’s story ended in tragedy. After complaints of ill health, suspected depression and kidney disease, he simply disappeared on the return voyage from Australia on November 26, 1872. The captain’s cabin window was discovered open, but he could not be found. A mystery still surrounds his death, with conflicting claims of accident, suicide, and even murder.
Before the age of telephones, or radio, crew members were unable to send news of his death to his wife and daughters. They poignantly had joined others at the Liverpool dockside, on Christmas Day, to welcome the ship and her captain home.
Captain Gray’s portrait, painted by John Kemp, will sit alongside artwork, ranging from an oil painting of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who designed and built the ss Great Britain, to pictures of the ship in harbour and at sea.
Rhian Tritton, the ss Great Britain Trust’s Director of Museum and Educational Services, commented: “It is a great privilege to be unveiling the portrait of Captain John Gray.
“We are immensely grateful to the Trust’s long-term supporter John Baker and to the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, as without them we would not have been able to acquire this portrait.”
She added: “Captain Gray was not only an excellent captain but very well-liked by passengers and crew. He is mentioned so often in the passengers’ diaries that it is marvelous to add a portrait of him to our collection.
“He played a massively significant role in shaping Australia, and deserves all our thanks. This is a stunning work of art, and truly captures the character of the man.”
The total cost of the portrait, plus its expert fine art transportation, was £17,250.
Passenger diary and book extracts, referring to Captain John Gray:
• Mary Crompton writes in her diary: ‘I was walking with the captain the other day and I asked him if he was not very proud of his ship. ‘Dear little girl’ he exclaimed ‘I love every plank of her, I pat her sometimes and I’ve promised her a rest if she will only get home in less than 70 days’.’
• She adds: ‘What a very nice man the captain is, he seems always to be looking out for something to make his passengers more comfortable; he generally chooses those ladies who are travelling alone to walk with. Among so many of course he cannot give much time to each one but he always has a pleasant word or a smile for everyone.’
• Charles Albert Chomley writes in his diary: ‘I suppose he is the most popular captain afloat, I think the passengers would do anything for him.’
• Clara Aspinall, in her book ‘Three Years In Melbourne’, states: ‘There are eight or 10 unmarried ladies on board, some with their parents, others under the care of our captain [Gray]. Indeed the number of engaged young ladies whom he has taken out to Melbourne is something fabulous, and he has no sooner cast anchor in Hobson’s Bay than he has to deck himself out in bridal array, and hasten to church to perform the fatherly office of giving away a bevy of fair charges.’
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