Benjamin Gray Info

Benjamin Gray was one of the most influential watchmakers of the early eighteenth century. He was born around 1676 and in 1704 married Mary Risdon. They had six sons and one daughter, Mary, who was later to become the wife of the celebrated maker Justin Vulliamy.

After living and working in St Martins in the Fields, the upwardly mobile Benjamin moved first to St James, and finally to Pall Mall in 1752, some 10 years after he received the Royal Warrant from King George II.

He was joined in partnership in 1743 by his son-in-law, Justin Vulliamy, who continued the business and Royal patronage after Benjamin died in 1764, aged 87.

Between 1704 and 1726, records reveal that he made 160 watches and only 17 clocks. Included in this total are watches for other well known makers, i.e. "June 27 1707 delivered a repeating quarter motion with the two springs and the bell to Mr Windmills Ł11-14s-0d".

For further reading we recommend "The Vulliamy Clockmakers" by David G Vulliamy.