Born at Clare, Suffolk, in May, 1817; went to the Mercers' School, and at 15 was apprenticed to Gilbert, a Norwich surgeon, and attended the practice of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he attracted the attention of the Ophthalmic Surgeon, John Dalrymple (qv). In 1835 he entered Guy's Hospital, where he was also noticed favourably by his teachers. He then, on the advice of John Hilton, began to practise in Dulwich, and gained one of the most extensive suburban practices. On the termination in 1862 of the old regulations requiring residence before graduation, Ray was bracketed first in the list of honours for the MD of the University of Aberdeen. He was a member of many medical societies and served on several councils; was also President of the Sydenham District Medical Society. He was regarded as a model general practitioner. For twelve years before his death he was the subject of a loud cardiac murmur which ended in pyaemia, and his death occurred on February 27th, 1868. His case attracted the attention of Drs Gull and Wilks, who published an account of it in the *British Medical Journal* (1868, i, 221, 235) under the title, "Report of a Case of Pyaemia from Valvular Disease of the Heart: Death." He left a widow and seven children. His son, E Reynolds Ray, succeeded to his practice.