John Gray was born in 1764 near George Washington's estate, the eldest of eight children. His father, a Patriot soldier, was killed during the Revolutionary War, leaving a young John to care for his family. At seventeen, Gray joined the army and participated in the Siege of Yorktown, contributing to American independence. After the war, he served General Washington at Mount Vernon before moving west to Morgantown, Virginia. Around 1795, he relocated to Ohio, possibly due to Virginia's restrictive voting laws. Gray lived a simple life, sustained by farming and raising livestock. He outlived his wives and children, eventually residing with a step-daughter. Biographer James Dalzell documented Gray's life and advocated for his Revolutionary War pension. Gray was finally recognized as a veteran and received a pension in 1867. He died in 1868 at the age of 104, potentially the longest-surviving verified veteran, though other claims exist. Gray's exceptionally long life spanned a significant period of American history, from colonial times through the Civil War.