Venn: RAY or WRAY, JOHN. Adm. sizar at Trinity, May 12, 1644. Of Essex. S. of Roger, a blacksmith. B. at Black Notley, Nov. 1627. School, Braintree. Migrated to St Catharine's, June 28, 1644; readm. at Trinity, Nov. 21, 1646. Matric. 1647; B.A. 1647-8; M.A. 1651. Fellow, 1649. Tutor, 1653-60. Junior Dean, 1658-9. Ord. deacon and priest (Lincoln) Dec. 23, 1660; resigned in 1662. The well-known naturalist. F.R.S., 1667. Commenced his botanical tours in 1658. Travelled abroad with Francis Willughby, 1663-6. Together they agreed to attempt a systematic description of the whole organic world. Tutor to Willughby's two sons, c. 1672-6; resided at Middleton Hale, Warws. Married Margaret Oakeley, 1673. On the death of Willughby in 1672, took up his friend's unfinished zoological work. Retired to Dewlands, Black Notley, 1679. From 1690 devoted his attention to insects. For an account of his works, see D.N.B. Died at Dewlands, Jan. 17, 1705-6. Buried at Black Notley. M.I.(D.N.B.; G. Mag.)