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John Gregory (1806 - 1861)

At 19 years of age, John Gregory was the youngest founding member of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew. He arrived in Fredericton in 1818—along with his friends Robert Gowan and Thomas Robertson—as a member of the 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Throughout his lifetime John Gregory was an “active and prominent member of the Society,” serving as Secretary (1828-1837), as well as Vice-President (1838-1841; 1858-1861), and President (1861). He is also credited—along with his close friends and fellow Society members Francis Beverly, Robert Fulton, Thomas Robertson, and Robert Gowan—with founding St Paul's Church.

Born into a family of law professionals in Edinburgh, Scotland, John attended private schools and commenced Law studies at the age of 15. After interning for two years, it is said that his “pride was hurt” when the senior attorneys criticized his work. He felt the criticisms were unjust, and what made matters even worse, his father agreed with them! John thus decided to leave Scotland, and departed for New Brunswick with the 74th Regiment. 

When the 74th left Fredericton in 1823, John stayed behind, along with his friend Robert Gowan, and two years later, with the assistance of Robert Fulton (also a founding member of the Society), obtained a position as Clerk in the Provincial Secretary’s Office. For many years he served as Clerk Assistant in the Legislative Council, and by 1861 had risen to the position of Provincial Secretary of New Brunswick—with Robert Fulton his assistant. The Gregorys lived at present-day 12 Acacia Court, having purchased the first Loyalist house built in Fredericton from Dr Charles Earle in c. 1825.

John Gregory played an important role in developing education standards in New Brunswick. He was appointed in 1844 by Lieutenant Governor Sir William Colebrook to a special committee to evaluate the Province’s grammar and parochial schools. Their report exposed a system rife with incompetent teachers providing inadequate education to the province’s youth. This was true of both the grammar and parochial schools, but especially the latter, which generally served the less affluent families and smaller, more rural communities. A Board of Education was instituted, with Gregory as its secretary, to develop and oversee a training and model school for the Province. 

Upon his passing in 1861, the following tribute to his memory was prepared by a committee of the Society and recorded in the minutes: 
Mr. Gregory’s name and useful labours were well known, not merely in this city and neighbourhood, but throughout the Province. His exertions in the cause of education are universally appreciated and his elaborate report on Parish Schools has been of great assistance in paving the way for many improvements in that Department. 
In the public duties which he discharged he was highly esteemed, always frank, kind and obliging. He grudged no labour in doing a service to the poor as readily and willingly as to the rich. 
With a heart ever alive to feel for the distressed, his hand was always ready to contribute liberally for their relief.
John Gregory and his wife Mary are buried in section 12 of the Old Burying Ground. Their gravestone reads: 

Sacred to the memory of John Gregory 
Born in Edinburgh Scotland 
3th Oct. 1806. 
Died in Fredericton, N.B. 
29th Oct. 1861. 

Also his wife Mary Grosvenor 
Born in Fredericton, N.B. 1
6th July 1814. 
 Died 20th Nov. 1877.
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