South African journalist, newspaper proprietor and former editor of the Pretoria News, James Andrew Gray was born in Scotland. He served on the staff of the Evening Despatch and was wounded three times in the First World War before joining the parliamentary staff of The Times. He moved to South Africa and became editor of the Pretoria News from 1924 until 1932, when he returned to England. He was awarded the Prix de Journalisme Colonial award at Ghent, Belgium, in 1955, and Portugal honoured him when he became a Commander of the Order of Prince Henry in 1965.
16 August 1890
SA Journalist James Gray is born

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, v. 5, Cape Town: NASOU.
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). SA Journalist James Gray is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011140
South African History Online (2011) 'SA Journalist James Gray is born', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011140 (Accessed: 13 October 2026).
South African History Online, SA Journalist James Gray is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011140, (accessed 13 October 2026).
"SA Journalist James Gray is born." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011140. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "SA Journalist James Gray is born." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011140.
Also on 16 August
- 1800The Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser, a bilingual newspaper and the first to publish news and advertisements, is published for the first time.
- 1901General De la Rey protests British mistreatment of women and children
- 1924The first radio licence in SA is issued to Dr J. van Rensburg of Carnarvon
- 1960The first Prime Minister of the DRC, Patrice Lumumba, declares martial law in Katanga
- 1971Malawian President Hastings Banda visits SA
- 1990Mandela and De Klerk hold emergency talks
- 1993South Africa relinquishes sovereignty over Walvis Bay
- 1997Bafana Bafana wins against DR Congo
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →