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John Gray

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John Gray Famous memorial

Birth
Death
8 Feb 1858
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland
Burial
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland GPS-Latitude: 55.9470559, Longitude: -3.1921362
Memorial ID
View Source
Folk Figure. Little of his history is known. He apparently arrived in the Greyfriars district in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850 at about the age of forty where he settled with his wife and son. A gardener by trade, there was no work for him in the city so he joined the Edinburgh Police Force as Constable Number 90 Warrant Number 1487, serving as a night watchman. In 1856, he acquired a watch dog in the form of a Skye Terrier whom he called Bobby. The pair walked the beat together, ate together, and became a well known sight. Early in 1858, Gray was treated by Police Surgeon Dr. Littlejohn for tuberculosis. Within weeks, he succumbed to the disease and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby walked in the procession and was seen at the burial. Bobby seemed unable to tear himself away from his master and took up position on Gray's grave. Bobby refused to be coaxed away from the grave for any length of time, and despite the best efforts of Gray's family and the kirkyard caretaker, Bobby remained in his position on the grave of his master for the next fourteen years. His vigil only ended with his death.
Folk Figure. Little of his history is known. He apparently arrived in the Greyfriars district in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850 at about the age of forty where he settled with his wife and son. A gardener by trade, there was no work for him in the city so he joined the Edinburgh Police Force as Constable Number 90 Warrant Number 1487, serving as a night watchman. In 1856, he acquired a watch dog in the form of a Skye Terrier whom he called Bobby. The pair walked the beat together, ate together, and became a well known sight. Early in 1858, Gray was treated by Police Surgeon Dr. Littlejohn for tuberculosis. Within weeks, he succumbed to the disease and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby walked in the procession and was seen at the burial. Bobby seemed unable to tear himself away from his master and took up position on Gray's grave. Bobby refused to be coaxed away from the grave for any length of time, and despite the best efforts of Gray's family and the kirkyard caretaker, Bobby remained in his position on the grave of his master for the next fourteen years. His vigil only ended with his death.

Bio by: Iola


Inscription

Died 1858
Auld Jock
Master of Greyfriars Bobby
"And Even In His Ashes Most Beloved"

Erected By American Lovers of Bobby


Family Members


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Jan 1, 2001
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19329/john-gray: accessed ), memorial page for John Gray (unknown–8 Feb 1858), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19329, citing Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland; Maintained by Find a Grave.