John Gray, Greyfriars Bobby owner

John Gray signature 1853
John Gray’s signature 1853

John Gray, Edinburgh police officer 1487, is believed to be the owner of Greyfrairs Bobby, the little dog that sat on his grave for 12 years after John Grey’s premature death of tuberculosis in 1858 aged 45. He was born in Forfar and found work in Edinburgh as a policeman in February 1853. He was 5 foot 7 inches tall, with grey eyes and sandy hair. He lived with his wife Jess and son John in Halls Court, sometimes known as Hells Kitchen, just off the Cowgate. He died on 8 February 1858 as certified by Henry Littlejohn, police surgeon, and was buried in Greyfriars graveyard.

Greyfriars Bobby in 1865

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