Bray, James Samuel

Amateur naturalist, author and erratic entrepreneur in late colonial Sydney.

Milestone

Born

Bent Street, Sydney

09 Jan 1849

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Died

01 Apr 1918

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Buried

Rookwood Cemetery

02 Apr 1918

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Occupation

Naturalist

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Writer

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Businessperson

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Position

Clerk

Electric Telegraph Department

1872 - 1876

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Property

Owner of

Bray's Museum of Curios

1884 - 1892

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Relationship

Child of

Bray, James Samuel snr

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Child of

Bray, Amelia

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Parent of

Bray, Emily Amelia Muston

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Parent of

Bray, John Muston

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Parent of

Bray, Arthur

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Parent of

Drake, Mildred (Desda)

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Parent of

Drake, Alma

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Parent of

Bray, Boronia

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Parent of

Bray, James Buprestis

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Spouse

Bray, Janet

11 Jul 1870 - 1878

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Spouse

Drake, Fanny

1883 - 1918

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Bray, James Samuel

Peter Hobbins

2017

supported by

State Library of New South Wales

A local character for nearly 50 years, James Samuel Bray was an amateur naturalist, prolific author and erratic entrepreneur in late-colonial Sydney. Despite representing the colony at exhibitions as far afield as Melbourne and Calcutta, Bray perennially skirted the edges of scientific and social respectability. Often ostracised in life, and soon forgotten after his death, he nevertheless embodied the 'antiquarian imagination' that took root in the Australian colonies from the 1870s until World War I.

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The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Bray, James Samuel