Matthew Gray

Matthew Gray served as the Acting Deputy Governor of Bombay Presidency from the year 1669 to 1672. He was one of the well known British colonial administrators of the British East India Company. Gray acted as a gubernatorial officer under the subordination of the governor of the province of Bombay. Gray succeeded Sir Henry Young, who left office as the Deputy Governor of Bombay 13 November 1669. Sir Matthew Gray was appointed as the Governor of Bombay (now Mumbai) on 14 July 1669. Bombay Presidency was one of the 3 major Presidencies and provinces of British India, including Madras Presidency and Bengal Presidency. It was first founded in the 17th century at Surat as a trading post for the British East India Company. The Presidency included the territories of modern states of Gujarat, regions of Konkan, Kandesh and Desh, Maharashtra, and northwestern state of Karnataka.

The Province of Bombay did not include any Princely States of India as the internal administration of these native states was responsibility of the native rulers. But the Presidency managed the defence of many native states and also supervised the relationship of the rulers of the princely states with the British authorities.

Matthew Gray held the position till 7 June 1672. When the authority of the British East India Company was reassigned to the province of Bombay, the necessity for the Deputy Governor was generically decimated. Despite the alteration, the title was assumed by the second official of the Executive Council of the Governor of the presidency. However, the title was disused from 1720 and 1758. Phillip Gifford preceded him in the position and served till 1676.

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